Once Within a Time

I wanted to see the new Almodovar movie. My cousin said he had been walking past the IFC and there had been a crowd of people enthusiastic to see this film , so we saw it. As I walked in and saw the sign in which the film makers mentioned all the imagination that had gone into it, I didn't think anything. After about thirty minutes, I leaned over to my cousin and asked if he understood what was going on. He said no. I suggested that whatever it was, the film makers didn't approve. Fifteen minutes later, he left for the men's room and didn't emerge until twenty minutes after the film had ended. A wise man.

According to the Internet Movie Database, this film is

"A comedic apocalyptic vision of the end of the world and the beginning of a new one, with unforgettable views and the innocence and hope of a new generation"

Maybe. What I saw was a collection of images from fantasy films fed into a computer, the colors changed then desaturated, with the sound effect likewise. This was occasionally varied by small children -- likewise with weird color value -- gazing adoringly at the characters named "Hero" and "Destiny." Towards the end, Mike Tyson showed up to the children's approval.

Over lunch, my cousin opined that it was a dreamscape, and that what the film makers disapproved of was cel phones. Maybe. He apologized several times for suggesting this film.

IN A NUTSHELL: This film is only for artsy-fartsy cinephiles who appreciate an extremely creative and symbolic film, rather than the typical Hollywood faire. Many viewers might stumble upon this and wonder what on earth it's all about.

It's an inventive and very visual look at the end of the world and the beginning of a new one in the style of artistic vignettes, mixing animation and live action. If you understand the trailer, then you might be interested in watching the entire film. If not, skip it.

The movie was directed by Godfrey Reggio and Jon Kane. Godfrey Reggio also wrote it.

THINGS I LIKED: It's definitely creative!

The children in the film were all adorable.

An appropriate word to describe this film is "provocative." You really have to think about what you're seeing and what various images symbolize. This isn't the kind of movie that can just play in the background while you're cooking or something.

Fun fact: Mike Tyson is involved with this film.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: This is definitely not for everyone. I imagine that most people who are in the mood to watch a good movie won't be prepared for what this is. Most people won't have the patience to endure the entire movie even though it's much shorter than the typical 90-minute film.

TIPS FOR PARENTS: Kids will be completely confused and bored. So will some adults.

Images of destruction.

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Godfrey Reggio has released a new film; a follow up to his Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi, Naqoyqatsi, and Visitors.

I have to say, those people (like myself) who have followed his work since Koyaanisqatsi, ... will find his message most clearly articulated in this film. It's the most lucid rendition of what he is trying to say. So much so, the scene where the man receives the cage around his head... will bring many to tears.

Because of the "flying shields", rock petroglyphs, "criss-crossed wires in the sky", and "gourds of ashes" - I know the "New Agers", and artists, and "hippies" who have taken an affinity for the Hopi people are going to once again come out of the woodwork.

Honestly, I can't get enough of the film, I see something new each time I watch it.

From someone looking for answers in the span of my short eighty years here, Tsangawpi tawlawva KB.

As all of Reggio's work, this is a film that defies all categories. I can guarantee that it's not like anything you've seen before. Reggio is 83 and has been breaking boundaries for over 50 years. 'Once Within A Time' is a fitting capstone to an amazing career.

This is the movie Godfrey Reggio was born to make. It's in many ways unlike anything he's done before, and yet everything leads to this. The film uses no documentary footage, instead it's entirely constructed in a studio (Red Hook, NY). It has a story and characters that are played by actors and a crew of ordinary children. It's perhaps his most accessible film, as it will appeal to both children and grownups.

The themes that prevail through all of Reggio's films are present. This time he confronts the technological alienation of culture from nature and the total commodification of human life with a narrative of hope that thrives within the innocence and playfulness of child's vision. There's a feeling of playfulness and delightful improvisation in every aspect of the production.

As in all of Reggio's films since 'Koyannisqatsi', the score is composed by Phillip Glass, but it features interludes of childlike song and ceremonial improvisations. There's even a triumphant jazz interlude that features the shamanic presence of Mike Tyson!

(The companion film, 'The Making Of 'Once Within A Time' is also well worth watching.)