Wings of Fame

I was lucky enough to see this film at the Chicago Film Festival in the early 90s, and also to participate in a discussion after the screening with the director. I had not seen it again until today, broken up in 9 parts on YouTube. I remembered it vividly, though some 25 years have passed. A very clever philosophical comedy, beautifully shot with wonderful acting. It's a tragedy that this movie is so hard to find (especially considering Colin Firth's current popularity) and shocking that the director hasn't directed more than just one other feature and a short. I remember him telling us that most of the shots were improvised, not the acting of them, but the set ups and lighting, which is amazing considering how beautiful the movie is. It's really one of those "every shot looks like a painting" type films. The YouTube print actually does it justice, but I would love to get a DVD somehow. Anyway, however you can, see this movie. And someone hire this director again.

This movie deals with the subject of fame and legacy in a hauntingly surreal fashion.

Though relatively unknown (and under celebrated) it truly is a masterpiece, and should be seen by everyone who is, was, or ever wished they could be "famous".

The opening of the curtain for this very experimental and speculative film immediately reminds you of the great cinematography of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger and their masterpiece "A Matter of Life and Death". There is no war here, but the issue of death is omnipresent. The story is not quite clear, there is too much fantasy while the realism is not enough, as it gets muddled up in mysteries that never are explained. Whatever happened to doctor Frisch, for example? Bianca is adamant in believing that it is all fake, that death does not exist, and that they are all hospitalized in an asylum, but there is nothing wrong with her, so that aspect must be taken into account. It also reminds somewhat of Alain Resnais in his most enigmatic intricacies, while at least both Peter O'Toole and Colin Firth are quite convincing in their parts. It's an odd film like no other, and the mythological touch is very efficient and intriguing. It's all a kind of experimental fantasy and suggestion of an idea, that actually is more reasonable than it appears, especially when you enter an allegorical scrutiny and analysis. It is fascinating all the way, although you will have to bear with certain incomprehensible anomalies.

A fantasy journey in the world of famous people... a new Idea where this fame, craze, public following, fan following, stardom etc...etc wanes by time!!!!

Hints must be given to follow the film... . And a slight 1 % leak in the process is expected. But Peter Otoole what an actor he is.... versatile and thoroughly entertaining...

I saw this movie a couple of years ago but I can still remember it well and the movie (and its story) allways facinated me. I have only now discovered that this movie was in fact a Dutch production (from my own country), but because of all the foreign actors I allways thought that the movie was American.

Maybe the reason why the story appealed to me so much was perhaps that the theory of heaven based on popularity could be very realistic and would make very much sense to me. Ofcorse in the movie it is based on allready believed in theories (like the Styx).

I find it almost impossible to believe that the movie is not available as DVD (well maybe in Dutch stores but at least not at Amazon), because the movie was not that bad that it should die a quiet death on slowly detoriating VHS tapes...