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Reviews15
insightflow's rating
Fantastic job in deeply exploring the issues of trauma, its impact on one's life, the ability or inability to cope, and the importance of accountability. There are no easy answers; instead, we have here laid bare the complexity of trauma and the enduring pain. Is it possible to overcome? Only through understanding and through introspection, which Galliano may be lacking. We witness instead his enduring escapism. Although he has ostensibly made steps to reform, there's the child within urging to run away. A puer aeternus, a classic narcissist.
What strikes is that some Jews were willing to understand and even forgive, had Galiano sincerely shown remorse and begged forgiveness. Then there's another person who regrets having felt sorry for him; there are those who wouldn't give him the time of day, and there are his friends who won't question him. Is the truth in the middle? Certainly in hearing all the voices and getting the big picture this remarkable film succeeds to convey.
One ought to wonder whether Galliano agreed on the film in order to be understood or for promotion. Maybe both.
What strikes is that some Jews were willing to understand and even forgive, had Galiano sincerely shown remorse and begged forgiveness. Then there's another person who regrets having felt sorry for him; there are those who wouldn't give him the time of day, and there are his friends who won't question him. Is the truth in the middle? Certainly in hearing all the voices and getting the big picture this remarkable film succeeds to convey.
One ought to wonder whether Galliano agreed on the film in order to be understood or for promotion. Maybe both.
Not a Bowie fan, I was reluctant to see this film, even tried to get rid of a ticket. I'd come to discover that such a reluctance was initially a Bowie trait. And after the impressive cinematic journey, I find myself reluctant to write an impression.
The film captures an intellectual, matching up his astuteness, alienation, and self-embrace. I didn't find it at all intrusive or fragmented, as others have suggested; on the contrary, it carefully succeeds in merging together the fragments that were Bowie's world initially; the world at large he deems chaotic, while gluing it with self-reflection, to finally - painstakingly yet miraculously - melt the fragments in the empathy he direly lacked in childhood. This film is really a homage: it depicts an individual on the edge of losing his mind in the process of getting it together. This is the real feat (managing to be "a rock star" while keeping the fanatics at a distance no lesser one). At long last he is comfortable, yet he never conforms; he becomes intimate with himself, while keeping his "generalistic" stance.
Take the journey and discover for yourself... discover yourself. There's the sense of sunshine as the aftertaste; even the feel of someone watching from above, watching over us, over this life he loved and never wished to abandon.
I never was a Bowie fan. I never will be, but now I am more - a follower of a rare one worthy of being followed, because all his signposts point to transcendence.
Never the actor, never the entertainer, never the mask/person - Bowie (whoever and whatever he is) has arrived where he wanted... where they wanted.
The film captures an intellectual, matching up his astuteness, alienation, and self-embrace. I didn't find it at all intrusive or fragmented, as others have suggested; on the contrary, it carefully succeeds in merging together the fragments that were Bowie's world initially; the world at large he deems chaotic, while gluing it with self-reflection, to finally - painstakingly yet miraculously - melt the fragments in the empathy he direly lacked in childhood. This film is really a homage: it depicts an individual on the edge of losing his mind in the process of getting it together. This is the real feat (managing to be "a rock star" while keeping the fanatics at a distance no lesser one). At long last he is comfortable, yet he never conforms; he becomes intimate with himself, while keeping his "generalistic" stance.
Take the journey and discover for yourself... discover yourself. There's the sense of sunshine as the aftertaste; even the feel of someone watching from above, watching over us, over this life he loved and never wished to abandon.
I never was a Bowie fan. I never will be, but now I am more - a follower of a rare one worthy of being followed, because all his signposts point to transcendence.
Never the actor, never the entertainer, never the mask/person - Bowie (whoever and whatever he is) has arrived where he wanted... where they wanted.
Very stylish, flawlessly acted (particularly loved François Cluzet), intricate yet realistic and not overly dramatic.
I disagree with it being characterised as satire in another review - this is subtle (or not so much) psychological drama from different viewpoints, which suffers only from its multidimensionality. Towards the end of the film it was difficult for me to keep track of the whole intrigue; nevertheless, it is a deep character study, without the scrutiny which would make it satirical.
The female characters are in their core earthy and sane, despite the ostensible drama; the males are unstable. This may be setting the record straight; I was in fact surprised the author is male.
The cinematography is lavish and pleasant.
I disagree with it being characterised as satire in another review - this is subtle (or not so much) psychological drama from different viewpoints, which suffers only from its multidimensionality. Towards the end of the film it was difficult for me to keep track of the whole intrigue; nevertheless, it is a deep character study, without the scrutiny which would make it satirical.
The female characters are in their core earthy and sane, despite the ostensible drama; the males are unstable. This may be setting the record straight; I was in fact surprised the author is male.
The cinematography is lavish and pleasant.