星期一, 4月 25, 2005

如是觀塘,如是興奮

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如是觀塘,如是興奮

Posted by Hello

Van Gogh version#1

I am really surprised to watch such a vivid documentary on an artist life on TV. The programme is produced by Channel 4, my favourite channel in UK focusing on TV progame in art, and was broadcasted by TVB today.

In the first episode, the early life of Van Gogh is portraited which started from his birth in
Holland, to his early working journey in Britain, and finally back to Holland after the frustration on the attempt to become a missioner for Jesus Christ.

As a 25 years old guy who always feels confused about the future, the story of Van Gogh is quite inspiring. You may think he found his own destiny and destiny in an early time, or he could not have huge artistic achievement. Indeed, the decision had to be made with a strong will, however his decision in pursuit of art fulfillment was not to be made until at the age of 27.

Before the decision came to be made, he has been doing several jobs. As his father was a very successful art dealer, he was arranged to be employed as a customer service provider in a gallery, job duty including ass-kissing to riches by praising their weary taste on art. After being fired as being missioner from the Church, he underwent a period of confusion. But finally, he finds his mission and talent on being an artist.

There were several twisting points in his early life. He might be an art dealer, book store manager, teacher or even a priest. However, the fact that he was not a good employee for the above posts made him step into an artistic path.

So the story telling us that the path for everyone comes in a different time, some may come earlier, some may come a bit later. So I guess, at least I try to believe, a true calling would be arrived finally and great achievement should come along.

Another fascinating part of Van Gogh is definitely his love life. It is reported that he fell in love with a widow, who had a son already. The portrait of the widow doesn’t look attractive at all, even a lot older than Van Gogh. Such weird pursuit on love finally scars the widow when Van Gogh tried to show his heart to her. It inevitably results in the fluctuation on his emotion. One week later, he made an even more astonishing decision, to marry a prostitute, Sien.

The decision is not hard to explain. As finally Van Gogh found a woman who was fully dependable on him and would like to stay with him for the rest of his life. The act seems to be a symbol of reassuring himself as the God of his life. However, Sien was described as unattractive and even ugly. Van Gogh actually drew a picture on her titled “sorrow”. He intended to show her strength on fighting the pains of life. The textile of the skin reminds me the roots of tree.

As Van Gogh finally came to the days with a lovely family, things should go smoothly afterward. Shouldn’t it? Well, let see.

星期二, 4月 19, 2005

我也想乘一趟

今天去了藝術中心,特意為明天作準備。來到五樓的"Seven"日本設計師聯展,發現了這張由服部一成設計的JR print ad,才驚覺純影像,也可造成如些驚人的效果。温暖而純真的感覺,叫人馬上想訂張火車票,周末前往郊遊。如果我坐地鐵都可以有咁既feel的話,你話幾好呢!!

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Taken 25/2 Posted by Hello

星期一, 4月 18, 2005

隔窗未了緣,誘惑邊緣

去前曾於電影節放映一場,零三年連奪意大利金像獎的五項殊榮,但卻整體卻只為不過不失,故事驚喜不大。正場反應冷淡可以理解。

丈夫一天帶了一個失憶老人西蒙回家。祖凡娜結婚多年,養兒育女,生活己夠累人了,實在承受不起多一個人,故急欲將西蒙從她的生活中趕走,更因此與丈夫多番吵架。但後來,祖發現失憶老人竟是整餅高手,且還背負著一段未完成的同性愛,這正好對應當時祖與隔窗男子羅倫素發展的瞹味關係。祖看似找到新的出口下,但她有力量去突破嗎﹖情人丈夫,工作理想,她會怎樣選擇﹖

電影的結局保衞了傳統的家庭觀念,但卻揭示了轉變的可能性。人物描寫方面,以女主角祖凡娜比較出色,較有層次。西蒙及美男子羅倫素卻流於表面,尤其是羅倫素,除了外型英偉外,就只是一個雄性符號。祖與西蒙的互動雖然包含了對理想及愛情的響往,但啟發不足,感動不深,較為表面。

可幸飾演女主角的演員祖凡娜梅素姬摩外型出眾,演出尚算細膩,實為本片難得的亮點。而攝影及配樂亦令本片加分,算是挽回了意大利金像獎的面子。

蠻童之歌,歌頌人性

蠻童之歌,食正神職人員醜聞熱,令人不禁想起同樣由真人真事改編的「瑪德蓮墮落少女」。不過,蠻童並非孌童,故性侵犯只是佔一小部份,並非主菜,說它像「暴雨驕陽」反更貼切。

電影藉著從戰爭回來的費加入勞教所,與教會講求紀律的保守勢力周旋,突顯教勞教所非人性的一面。費春風化雨,以知識啟發少年,睇唔過眼神父諸多變態行為,包括無理體罰等,處處與神父作對。但不幸地,費威脅到原神父的地位,最後釀成悲劇,將電影帶往高潮。

正如「瑪德蓮墮落少女」,題材已給予劇本一個紮實的基石,非人道的勞教所本身已充滿可塑性,再加進費這個人道主義的角色,戲味自然湧到埋嚟。正邪交鋒,扣成一闕歌頌人性的讚歌,演員演出逼真,值得一看。