LifeVsArt

I just saw Club Zero - still attempting to "digest" it. Brilliant but not ready-made for simplistic interpretations. It attacks some major issues way beyond eating disorders. For me Hausner explores our human need for connection - the need to find community in a confusing world through a shared belief system (no matter how irrational or potentially destructive). The family unit is dissolving. This is how ideology substitutes for what was once the realm of religion. Modern day group think and aligning oneself with a tribe (perhaps only a tribe that exists online) is one way to not feel alone and to see oneself as serving a higher purpose - to have acceptance and meaning in ones life. Of course, this lends itself to being manipulated - this was obviously true with Nazism and Communism, both of which were dressed up as servicing a high ideal. In the case of Ms Novak, she's been drinking her own Kool-Aid. I loved Wasikowska's portrayal of this extremely sincere but demented role model. Her accent was interesting - I think it might have been a subdued Dutch accent. She always becomes her character thoroughly - she's never just playing a version of herself. Club Zero has something to offend everyone, of any political persuasion, since its easy to project ones own bias onto the films surreal/psychological take on society.

The artistic process as it relates to ones real life is a theme that director Mia Hanson-Love turns into a multi-layered, heartfelt exploration into creativity and self knowledge. It has levels within levels, along with the stunningly effective structure of a film within a film (which effects ones perception of everything that precedes it). This is a film that as it lingers in the imagination new connections and meanings appear - it sets root in the viewer and grows from there. There's the primary story of two directors, parents of a child, Chris and Tony (a sensitive and subtle Vicki Krieps and Tim Roth) who go to Faro Island to bask in the magic and legend of the iconic Swedish director Ingmar Bergman - along with the serene beauty of the ocean and landscape. But this is also a launching pad to what follows which asks many questions regarding the artistic process and the true nature of the artist. There is a question of maintaining a state of innocence as one matures (artistically and personally). Does this purity need to be sacrificed on the altar of art or can it be nurtured and protected in art and in life? I won't say much about the film within the film other than it features a deeply moving, charismatic performance by Mia Wasikowska as Amy, along with her longed for love, Joseph, played beautifully by Anders Danielsen Lie. I found this part of the film riveting and extremely sensual as a further exploration of the inner life of its creator, Chris. Fantasy and reality melt into one on the same island where Bergman set his dreams to film. There's so much under the surface in this film that I won't even attempt to describe but its there for any viewer to sort out for themselves and follow their own insights and intuitions. This is an extremely creative and beautiful film which says something about the longing to reach the unattainable, whether it be Bergman or ones true nature.

This is a bold and unique movie that works on multiple levels and establishes multiple tones - at times funny, at times disturbing, but fascinating to watch. First time director and writer Mirrah Foulkes is insanely ambitious and fearless to take on such a daring, highwire-walk of a film as "Judy and Punch", which is part fable, part social commentary. She carries it off with enthusiasm (with a few bumps along the way). Overall its hard to deny the movie's originality and very insightful takes on some very big issues, many of which are at the bottom of the centuries old appeal of the Punch and Judy puppet show. None of this would be possible without the fierce performances by the principle actors. Mia Wasikowska, as Judy, is brilliant once again. It seems redundant to say this since it could be said about the vast majority of her performances (she's so versatile), but she simply is mesmerizing to watch - she has so much soul and presence that inspires empathy - she makes Judy fully human. Damon Herriman as the morally challenged Punch overflows with creepy charisma. Both actors hold the film together through all of its ups and downs, twists and turns and detours into the unexpected. This is a unique and entertaining movie. I'm looking forward to the next effort by director Foulkes.