thomas-rothschild

A good choice of films and some clever remarks. But: "Movies", according to this documentary, were made only in the US. And: the film doesn't give you the time to study single scenes or shots. It is an overview for people who don't really watch. Typical CNN, typical American and typical superficial. Evaluations mostly without reason. So it is not more than a string of reminders of great moments in cinema history for those who know the films. Scorsese, who adds a few short statements, has made better documentaries on the history of (not only northamerican) cinema. But if you don't spend more than 15 $ or Euro on the DVD it is okay.

This short film makes it clear, why there may be a bridge over the Kwai, but not between someone who grew up with Hollywood and someone who grew up with "Battleship Potemkin", "La strada", "Jules et Jim" or "Stalker". Wim Wenders once mentioned, that the Americans have colonized our subconscious. How true. It is the great misfortune of the ruling understanding of film. And it is the result of the sheer fact that USA is where the big money is. That is bad enough. But the expression in the faces of people like Milius makes it even worse. Compared with them, Fellinis Zampano is a likeable person.

Like most of the "Making of"-documentaries, this one is so terrible boring, because everyone finds everyone and everything great. These documentaries are no more and no less than PR-clips with standardized camera positions and routine editing. Why not discuss the political meaning of the Geneva Convention rule, that officers and officers only in prisoners camps are not to be forced to manual labour. One could suggest that "The Bridge on the River Kwai" is a snobbish film about the British upper class in wartimes. I prefer to see Alec Guinness as a ladykiller. And I don't need to know how the film was made. It speaks for itself. And whoever suggests that "The Bridge" is one of David Lean's best films doesn't know his early films from "Great Expectations" to "Hobson's Choice". The world has become a victim of Hollywood's measures.