Ashes and Snow

I first saw this film in New York, at the Nomadic Museum. I remember walking down the long hallway of the museum, curious to see what was at the end, where a group of people had gathered. Even though the movie lasted for almost 60 minutes, I stood in a crowd two times to watch it. I didn't even notice that I had been standing for so long! This is a film about love, about passion, and about kindness. Every time I watch it, I think of all of the people and places that I have felt a fondness for in my life. I think of my first love, my first kiss. I remember all of the most precious moments in my life.

I highly recommend this movie to everyone. I promise that you will be crying within five minutes of seeing the film.

What a stunning piece of art. As a filmmaker myself, I truly admire the technique involved in making Ashes and Snow. The composition is perfect. I love how it is edited slowly, rather than rapidly, so that viewers feel like they are entering into a transitional space. I think that Colbert is a visionary, and his work will be admired into the future.

The film is an awe-inspiring study of the relationships between humans and animals. It is a perfect escape from my normal life and routine. It's like escaping to a world that I can otherwise only visit in my dreams. Every time I have a slow moment at work, I watch clips from the film.

I highly recommend Ashes and Snow to everyone. For every holiday and birthday, I give it as a gift to my friends. It is truly a masterpiece.

Ashes and Snow is a beautiful example of photographic mastery. Gregory Colbert is one of the top photographers of this generation and Ashes and Snow is a testament to his talent. The film is well shot, tremendously edited and all this to a soundtrack that is appropriate and spiritual: it simply is a joy to watch.

It is clear that Colbert has an extraordinary talent and patience. He is able to become a part of these animals' environment. The animals seem engaged and happy.

Plus, Lisa Gerrard and Patrick Cassidy's music is delightful. These two performers only enhance an already perfect experience.

I would recommend this film to anyone, young or old: everyone will find something to enjoy.

I was watching this asleep and awake, I enjoyed it in a completely different way than I enjoyed any other film - a meditation of another level.

The images which I saw were mesmerizing, and combined with the poetry I felt like I was floating over my life in a dream. From the very first shot, the cinematography was a killer and I thought the Sepia tones really added to the atmosphere.

I read the "poem" or words of this movie later, it reads especially well under Pink Floyd, Echoes. Try it, really worth a shot.

I had the privilege of visiting Gregory Colbert's Parisian studio this weekend and fell in love with his magnificent, oversize sepia images of people and children interacting, sitting, dancing, or swimming with Asian elephants, eagles, manatees, cheetahs, whales and more. I had seen his 2005 exhibit, "Ashes and Snow", in New York City and still have one of its posters hanging above my bed. I wanted to watch the film of the same name in its entirety and was spellbound.

For those who are not familiar with Gregory Colbert, he is a Canadian born photographer and film-maker, who traveled on expeditions to India, Burma, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya and many more to document the incredible interactions between humans and animals. He exposes his work only in immense "nomadic" structures. Ashes and Snow attracted over 10 million visitors in NYC, Santa Monica, Tokyo and Mexico City, making it the most attended exhibition by a living artist in history. Colbert's Nomadic Museum continues its global journey indefinitely and has no final destination.

The movie, narrated by Laurence Fishburne, is stunning to say the very least. It is angelic, gentle and mesmerizing. Mostly silent, a simple, enchanting music plays in the background. From time to time a poem is read, telling the fictional tale of a husband writing 365 letters to his wife. The poems themselves are wonderful and divine, perfectly fitting into this symphony of sights and sounds and of perfect harmony between living beings. There are scenes of utmost beauty and precision that sent me into a dream-like state.

I highly recommend this film to anyone who is interested in art, photography or cinematography or simply to anybody who loves animals and wants to see something truly beautiful and unique. It can also be left on in the background and be watched over and over again for the striking, almost sacred allure of its images.

Gregory's next appointment is with the penguins and icebergs of Antarctica and I cannot wait to see what they have in store for us.

My rating: 8.5 Fabio's: 6 Total score: 14.5 For more movie reviews, please visit http://www.paulinasmovies.blogspot.com/