Sep. 22, 2009 at 3:41pm A Modern Silent Film

One 'silent' film from the modern era

I have watched a few of the old silent films from the early 20th century. Metropolis (1927) was interesting and I enjoyed seeing Nosferatu (1922) with a real organist playing the music to accompany the renovated version of the film. Although I appreciate the artistry of those early films, there is one 'silent' film that made a big impact on my view of cinema.

Tuvalu (1999)
This film was a recommendation from Netflix since I had enjoyed Brazil (1985) and The City of Lost Children (1995). I was a bit perplexed when I brought up the DVD menu, as it did not mention anything about subtitles, although it was made in eastern Europe. You absolutely do not need any translation or subtitles for the few words spoken in this film, but you still cannot busy yourself with something else while it plays, or you will what is happening.

The majority of the film takes place in an ancient, crumbling bathhouse in the center of a town in which most of the buildings have been demolished to make way for 'progress'. A progress that probably won't ever come, from the look of it. The patriarch of the bathhouse is a proud man, blind, but still running the bathhouse as he has for decades. His younger son, Anton,  and a middle aged woman help, and keep many of the patriarch's delusions about the bathhouse going. The older son has left the family business and is busy making money by demolishing the few buildings left in the town and purportedly building modern facilities for a new town of "Gregorgrad". Gregor cannot get his father to sell and must find a way to get the bathhouse demolished to make way for his dreams. And threaded throughout this story is Eva, whom Anton is falling for and Gregor is using to further his plans.

All the scenes are lit in sepia tints depending upon whether they are in one setting or another. Except for the dream sequences which are done in the most garish of colors and reminded me of children's book illustrations. The outside world is mostly barren, the bathhouse decrepit, but with the ocassional shade of fading elegance reminding us of what it once was.

This film is definitely quirky and odd, but well worth the time to see. And just in case it bothers you, there is nudity.