The Canonisation of Roy Anderson. (15.)
Songs From The Second Floor. 2000/ You, The Living. 2007/ A Pigeon Sat On A Branch Reflecting On Existence. 2014/ About Endlessness. (12A.) 2020. Directed by Roy Andersson. Being A Human Person. Directed by Fred Scott.
That 77-year-old Swedish filmmaker Roy Andersson has announced this year's About Endlessness will be his last film is yet another black mark against twennytwenny, but as this is effectively the fourth part of a trilogy, perhaps we should be glass half full and greet it as a bonus.
The other silver lining is that with no blockbusters or anything much else new and of interest in cinemas, Curzon Artificial Eye has gone all-in on trying to finally get Andersson the wider public recognition he so obviously deserves. He is surely, the most exciting filmmaker of the 21st century.
Prior to the release of About Endlessness on Nov 6th Curzon Artificial Eye have put together this touring retrospective which they've entitled The Canonisation of St. Roy Andersson: Four Miracles & Supporting Documents. Among the supporting documents are filmed introductions to the films. Mike Leigh introduces Songs; expert Beckett exponent Lisa Dwan talks about his influence on Andersson's work before You, The Living and Toby Ferris gives a little lecture on the Bruegel in relation to these films in front of A Pigeon. All of them last between 11 and 15 minutes and, in my view, lack a certain levity as introductions to the work of a man who so expertly meshes the worlds of High Art and Light Entertainment.
Mike Leigh also talks a little bit too much about himself and his work but he does have one cherishable anecdote, of being at the Sarajevo film festival and being told to go and see this film, Songs From The Second Floor, knowing absolutely nothing about it. That must've been bliss. Beloved is the one who sits down to see one of these films for the first time.
Songs would be a great place to start, as for me it's the best, though if you came to me and said You, The Living is better I couldn't really argue. Pigeon is just as good as them, but somehow not. It's remarkable, but doesn't open up any new avenues. About Endlessness is more of the same but less so; a simpler, less humourous vision. Perhaps this is ultimately a more optimistic film because it treasures the little things more.
On the other hand, as you look back over his two decades of output it's noticeable that while Songs in 2000 has something approaching a narrative and has sequences of scenes that link together, by Endlessness there are barely any recurring characters or situations and only a narrator offers any connection. There is no such thing as a narrative, there are just individual scenes working in their own interest. Overall, they pull together to make something like society but I can't help feeling that that is a bad sign.
Songs From The Second Floor. 2000/ You, The Living. 2007/ A Pigeon Sat On A Branch Reflecting On Existence. 2014/ About Endlessness. (12A.) 2020. Directed by Roy Andersson. Being A Human Person. Directed by Fred Scott.
That 77-year-old Swedish filmmaker Roy Andersson has announced this year's About Endlessness will be his last film is yet another black mark against twennytwenny, but as this is effectively the fourth part of a trilogy, perhaps we should be glass half full and greet it as a bonus.
The other silver lining is that with no blockbusters or anything much else new and of interest in cinemas, Curzon Artificial Eye has gone all-in on trying to finally get Andersson the wider public recognition he so obviously deserves. He is surely, the most exciting filmmaker of the 21st century.
Prior to the release of About Endlessness on Nov 6th Curzon Artificial Eye have put together this touring retrospective which they've entitled The Canonisation of St. Roy Andersson: Four Miracles & Supporting Documents. Among the supporting documents are filmed introductions to the films. Mike Leigh introduces Songs; expert Beckett exponent Lisa Dwan talks about his influence on Andersson's work before You, The Living and Toby Ferris gives a little lecture on the Bruegel in relation to these films in front of A Pigeon. All of them last between 11 and 15 minutes and, in my view, lack a certain levity as introductions to the work of a man who so expertly meshes the worlds of High Art and Light Entertainment.
Mike Leigh also talks a little bit too much about himself and his work but he does have one cherishable anecdote, of being at the Sarajevo film festival and being told to go and see this film, Songs From The Second Floor, knowing absolutely nothing about it. That must've been bliss. Beloved is the one who sits down to see one of these films for the first time.
Songs would be a great place to start, as for me it's the best, though if you came to me and said You, The Living is better I couldn't really argue. Pigeon is just as good as them, but somehow not. It's remarkable, but doesn't open up any new avenues. About Endlessness is more of the same but less so; a simpler, less humourous vision. Perhaps this is ultimately a more optimistic film because it treasures the little things more.
On the other hand, as you look back over his two decades of output it's noticeable that while Songs in 2000 has something approaching a narrative and has sequences of scenes that link together, by Endlessness there are barely any recurring characters or situations and only a narrator offers any connection. There is no such thing as a narrative, there are just individual scenes working in their own interest. Overall, they pull together to make something like society but I can't help feeling that that is a bad sign.
