"Nostalghia" (1983) movie review - Revision history

Mxmsj: Text replacement - "â€“" to "-"

2022-12-13T08:58:40Z

Text replacement - "â€“" to "-"

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:58, 13 December 2022
Line 101:		Line 101:
	: Sosnovsky is modeled on Ukrainian composer Maksym Berezovsky.		: Sosnovsky is modeled on Ukrainian composer Maksym Berezovsky.

	: Maksym Sozontovych Berezovsky (Polish: Maksym Berezowski) (c.1745 ~~â€“1777~~) was a Ukrainian composer, opera singer, and violinist.		: Maksym Sozontovych Berezovsky (Polish: Maksym Berezowski) (c.1745 -1777) was a Ukrainian composer, opera singer, and violinist.

	: Berezovsky was the first Ukrainian composer to be recognized throughout Europe and the first to compose an opera, symphony, and violin sonata. His most popular works are his sacred choral pieces written for the Orthodox Church. Much of his work has been lost; only three of the 18 known choral concertos have been found. Dmitry Bortniansky was thought to be the first Ukrainian symphonic composer until the discovery in 2002 of Berezovsky's Symphony in C by Steven Fox in the Vatican archives, composed around ~~1770â€“1772~~.		: Berezovsky was the first Ukrainian composer to be recognized throughout Europe and the first to compose an opera, symphony, and violin sonata. His most popular works are his sacred choral pieces written for the Orthodox Church. Much of his work has been lost; only three of the 18 known choral concertos have been found. Dmitry Bortniansky was thought to be the first Ukrainian symphonic composer until the discovery in 2002 of Berezovsky's Symphony in C by Steven Fox in the Vatican archives, composed around 1770-1772.

	: [Berezovsky was sent to Italy in the spring of 1769 to train with renowned teacher padre Giovanni Battista Martini at the Bologna Philharmonic Academy, where he graduated with distinction.]		: [Berezovsky was sent to Italy in the spring of 1769 to train with renowned teacher padre Giovanni Battista Martini at the Bologna Philharmonic Academy, where he graduated with distinction.]

Mxmsj: Text replacement - "--" to " — "

2022-12-10T10:03:54Z

Text replacement - "--" to " — "

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:03, 10 December 2022
Line 25:		Line 25:
	A: "I am fed up with all your beauties. I don't want to take it alone any more. ... I can't take it any more. That's it."		A: "I am fed up with all your beauties. I don't want to take it alone any more. ... I can't take it any more. That's it."

	She can't--or won't--kneel in prayer.		She can't — or won't — kneel in prayer.

	Sacristan: "Do you want a baby too? Or are you asking God to spare you?"		Sacristan: "Do you want a baby too? Or are you asking God to spare you?"
Line 123:		Line 123:
	A: "Did you knock?" E: "Not yet." He takes the book of poetry from her and shuts the door in her face.		A: "Did you knock?" E: "Not yet." He takes the book of poetry from her and shuts the door in her face.

	E: Poses provocatively, briefly. She did not get what she wanted from him, but she seems to express the conviction that she will win him eventually. Shifts her purse. "One, two, three--go!" Falls. Laughs.		E: Poses provocatively, briefly. She did not get what she wanted from him, but she seems to express the conviction that she will win him eventually. Shifts her purse. "One, two, three — go!" Falls. Laughs.

	[I'm baffled by the table saw noises. Never resolved. Just there in Dominico's scenes.]		[I'm baffled by the table saw noises. Never resolved. Just there in Dominico's scenes.]
Line 165:		Line 165:
	A: "I'm beginning to understand."		A: "I'm beginning to understand."

	She's hurt. She had hoped he was beginning to understand her--her crush on him. He is interested in why Domenico kept his family locked up for seven years.		She's hurt. She had hoped he was beginning to understand her — her crush on him. He is interested in why Domenico kept his family locked up for seven years.

	== Visit with Domenico ==		== Visit with Domenico ==

	Plastic sheet full of water--NOOOOOOO! It wouldn't last. It would rip itself to shreds after a few storms. You need a tent top to shed the water.		Plastic sheet full of water — NOOOOOOO! It wouldn't last. It would rip itself to shreds after a few storms. You need a tent top to shed the water.

	Yes, the bread and wine from the mad man. So, for AT, he is "alter christus." [Paul: "fool for Christ."]		Yes, the bread and wine from the mad man. So, for AT, he is "alter christus." [Paul: "fool for Christ."]
Line 207:		Line 207:
	Wipes his blood off the floor.		Wipes his blood off the floor.

	She brings the letter back. Bad dream: standing as a statue. "I knew I would be harshly punished if I moved because our lord and master was watching us. ... It was no dream, but my reality. I could try not to return to Russia, but the thought kills me because I would die if I never again saw my homeland--the birches, the air of my childhood." [Meanwhile, A lies down with blood on his nose and lip--like a corpse, I suppose.]		She brings the letter back. Bad dream: standing as a statue. "I knew I would be harshly punished if I moved because our lord and master was watching us. ... It was no dream, but my reality. I could try not to return to Russia, but the thought kills me because I would die if I never again saw my homeland — the birches, the air of my childhood." [Meanwhile, A lies down with blood on his nose and lip — like a corpse, I suppose.]

	His wife's name is Maria.		His wife's name is Maria.

Mxmsj: Text replacement - "â€™" to "'"

2022-12-10T08:37:27Z

Text replacement - "â€™" to "'"

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:37, 10 December 2022
Line 107:		Line 107:
	: [Berezovsky was sent to Italy in the spring of 1769 to train with renowned teacher padre Giovanni Battista Martini at the Bologna Philharmonic Academy, where he graduated with distinction.]		: [Berezovsky was sent to Italy in the spring of 1769 to train with renowned teacher padre Giovanni Battista Martini at the Bologna Philharmonic Academy, where he graduated with distinction.]

	: According to archival discoveries in the late 20th century, Berezovsky was appointed a staff member of the imperial theatres and capellmeister of the Royal court capella eight months later. This was a high ranking position for a musician and contradicts the notion that ~~Berezovskyâ€™s~~ talent was not appreciated upon his return to Saint Petersburg. Some sources state that he committed suicide as a result of depression for not being accepted upon his return to Saint Petersburg. His first biographer, Eugene Bolkhovitinov, made this assertion in 1804 based on testimonials of those who knew Berezovsky. Marina Ritzarev, a contemporary scholar, asserts that he did not commit suicide but rather likely caught a sudden fever resulting in his death after developing some psychic disease. He died in Saint Petersburg on March 24 (April 2, N.S.), 1777.		: According to archival discoveries in the late 20th century, Berezovsky was appointed a staff member of the imperial theatres and capellmeister of the Royal court capella eight months later. This was a high ranking position for a musician and contradicts the notion that Berezovsky's talent was not appreciated upon his return to Saint Petersburg. Some sources state that he committed suicide as a result of depression for not being accepted upon his return to Saint Petersburg. His first biographer, Eugene Bolkhovitinov, made this assertion in 1804 based on testimonials of those who knew Berezovsky. Marina Ritzarev, a contemporary scholar, asserts that he did not commit suicide but rather likely caught a sudden fever resulting in his death after developing some psychic disease. He died in Saint Petersburg on March 24 (April 2, N.S.), 1777.

	E: "Why won't you confide in me? I don't understand."		E: "Why won't you confide in me? I don't understand."

Mxmsj: /* At the hot springs */

2014-09-09T02:02:10Z

At the hot springs

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:02, 9 September 2014
Line 157:		Line 157:
	[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagno_Vignoni Bagno Vignoni]		[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagno_Vignoni Bagno Vignoni]

	"It is known that Catherine of Siena stayed in Bagno Vignoni several times, taken there by her mother in an attempt to dissuade her from joining the Order" [http://www.cretedisiena.com/paesi/Bagno_Vignonienglish.htm ''Cretedisiena,'' ("Bagno Vignoni").]		"It is known that Catherine of Siena stayed in Bagno Vignoni several times, taken there by her mother in an attempt to dissuade her from joining the Order" [http://www.cretedisiena.com/paesi/Bagno_Vignonienglish.htm (''Cretedisiena,'' "Bagno Vignoni").]

	== Hotel Corridor ==		== Hotel Corridor ==

Mxmsj: /* At the hot springs */

2014-09-09T02:01:47Z

At the hot springs

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:01, 9 September 2014
Line 157:		Line 157:
	[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagno_Vignoni Bagno Vignoni]		[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagno_Vignoni Bagno Vignoni]

	"It is known that Catherine of Siena stayed in Bagno Vignoni several times, taken there by her mother in an attempt to dissuade her from joining the Order."http://www.cretedisiena.com/paesi/Bagno_Vignonienglish.htm		"It is known that Catherine of Siena stayed in Bagno Vignoni several times, taken there by her mother in an attempt to dissuade her from joining the Order" [http://www.cretedisiena.com/paesi/Bagno_Vignonienglish.htm ''Cretedisiena,'' ("Bagno Vignoni").]

	== Hotel Corridor ==		== Hotel Corridor ==

Mxmsj: /* Hotel */

2014-09-09T02:00:18Z

Hotel

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:00, 9 September 2014
Line 121:		Line 121:
	Something falls out of the bible. Coin? Comb with hair. Witchcraft? Spell? Curse? Superstition?		Something falls out of the bible. Coin? Comb with hair. Witchcraft? Spell? Curse? Superstition?

	A: "Did you knock?" E: "Not yet."		A: "Did you knock?" E: "Not yet." He takes the book of poetry from her and shuts the door in her face.

	E: Poses provocatively, briefly~~; shifts~~ her purse. "One, two, three--go!" Falls. Laughs.		E: Poses provocatively, briefly. She did not get what she wanted from him, but she seems to express the conviction that she will win him eventually. Shifts her purse. "One, two, three--go!" Falls. Laughs.

	[I'm baffled by the table saw noises. Never resolved. Just there in Dominico's scenes.]		[I'm baffled by the table saw noises. Never resolved. Just there in Dominico's scenes.]

Mxmsj: /* Hotel */

2014-09-09T01:58:24Z

Hotel

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:58, 9 September 2014
Line 123:		Line 123:
	A: "Did you knock?" E: "Not yet."		A: "Did you knock?" E: "Not yet."

	E: "One, two, three--go!" Falls. Laughs.		E: Poses provocatively, briefly; shifts her purse. "One, two, three--go!" Falls. Laughs.

	[I'm baffled by the table saw noises. Never resolved. Just there in Dominico's scenes.]		[I'm baffled by the table saw noises. Never resolved. Just there in Dominico's scenes.]

Mxmsj at 01:57, 9 September 2014

2014-09-09T01:57:16Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:57, 9 September 2014
Line 59:		Line 59:
	help your daughter to become a mother.		help your daughter to become a mother.

	[~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_del_Parto "Madonna of Childbirth" by Piero della Francesca.]		[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_del_Parto "Madonna of Childbirth" by Piero della Francesca.]

	:; [http://people.ucalgary.ca/~tstronds/nostalghia.com/TheTopics/Piero.html "Andrei Tarkovsky's Madonna del Parto."]		:; [http://people.ucalgary.ca/~tstronds/nostalghia.com/TheTopics/Piero.html "Andrei Tarkovsky's Madonna del Parto."]
Line 155:		Line 155:
	::: "Movie magic": insane characters are played by relatively sane actors, who can give up their mimicry of a psychotic state at will and at a moment's notice, for dramatic effect. I've lived with at least one certified schizophrenic, and took a friend to a hospital who was suffering an acute psychotic breakdown. Neither is a beautiful condition.		::: "Movie magic": insane characters are played by relatively sane actors, who can give up their mimicry of a psychotic state at will and at a moment's notice, for dramatic effect. I've lived with at least one certified schizophrenic, and took a friend to a hospital who was suffering an acute psychotic breakdown. Neither is a beautiful condition.

	[~~https~~://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagno_Vignoni Bagno Vignoni]		[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagno_Vignoni Bagno Vignoni]

	"It is known that Catherine of Siena stayed in Bagno Vignoni several times, taken there by her mother in an attempt to dissuade her from joining the Order."http://www.cretedisiena.com/paesi/Bagno_Vignonienglish.htm		"It is known that Catherine of Siena stayed in Bagno Vignoni several times, taken there by her mother in an attempt to dissuade her from joining the Order."http://www.cretedisiena.com/paesi/Bagno_Vignonienglish.htm
Line 217:		Line 217:
	I wonder whether it is a stuffed horese. Too still.		I wonder whether it is a stuffed horese. Too still.

	:; [~~https~~://people.ucalgary.ca/~tstronds/nostalghia.com/TheTopics/Green_Tarkovsky_Obituary.html "Andrei Tarkovsky (1932-1986)."]		:; [http://people.ucalgary.ca/~tstronds/nostalghia.com/TheTopics/Green_Tarkovsky_Obituary.html "Andrei Tarkovsky (1932-1986)."]

	:: By 1935, when the family moved to a place outside Moscow, strains were beginning to show in the relationship between mother and father, leading to their divorce and the ultimate departure of the father. Andrei grew up in the company of his mother, grandmother, and sister, without a man in the house.		:: By 1935, when the family moved to a place outside Moscow, strains were beginning to show in the relationship between mother and father, leading to their divorce and the ultimate departure of the father. Andrei grew up in the company of his mother, grandmother, and sister, without a man in the house.

Mxmsj: /* Madonna of Childbirth */

2014-09-09T01:56:41Z

Madonna of Childbirth

@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 Mother who understands all, <br>
 help your daughter to become a mother.
 == Mystic interlude ==

Mxmsj: /* Visit with Domenico */

2014-09-09T01:56:17Z

Visit with Domenico

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:56, 9 September 2014
Line 164:		Line 164:

	Domenico does not answer the question directly. He asks whether Andrey is married, whether he has children, and whether his wife is beautiful.		Domenico does not answer the question directly. He asks whether Andrey is married, whether he has children, and whether his wife is beautiful.

	~~"Madonna of Childbirth" by Piero della Francesca.~~

	~~:; [http://people.ucalgary.ca/~tstronds/nostalghia.com/TheTopics/Piero.html "Andrei Tarkovsky's Madonna del Parto."]~~

	:: In July of 1984, Andrei Tarkovsky attended a press conference in Milan where he announced to the world that he would not return to the Soviet Union. When a journalist asked him if he would be seeking political exile in Italy, Tarkovsky answered, "I'm telling you a drama. You cannot ask me bureaucratic questions. Which country? I don't know. It's like asking me in which cemetery I wish to bury my children" [1]. This laconic announcement came at the end of the drama that began in 1979 when he first chose to go to Italy to film Nostalghia. The film itself stands as a testament to his own experience of nostalgia during his exile; in fact Tarkovsky calls the protagonist, Andrei Gorchakov, a "mirror" of himself [2].

	:: The first scene of the film, Eugenia and Gorchakov's visit to the Madonna del Parto, exemplifies Nostalghia's ambiguous agency. Gorchakov wants to see the painting because it reminds him of his wife. Tarkovsky chooses the painting because it reminds him of his wife. Tarkovsky also chooses the painting because it is not well known and, therefore, allows him greater artistic license in using it in his film. By contrast, heavily touristed sights like the Campidoglio require a total fidelity in order to be plausible to an international audience. At Piero's fresco, however, he can and does take great liberties manipulating the painting so that it "fits" in his film. Gorchakov goes to the out of the way location for a similar reason: he dislikes tourists.

	:: Tarkovsky's mother died on the fifth of October, 1979, after he had returned to Russia following the filming of Tempo di viaggio [23]. Tarkovsky admits to the idiosyncrasy of gender essentialism mainly in relation to his mother. In Mirror (Russia, 1974, Andrei Tarkovsky), for example, when his ex-wife accuses him of being self-centered, the autobiographical character Alexei says, "I can't help it. I was raised by women." In light of this statement and many like it, the dedication of Nostalghia to his mother is a reference to the ground for his gender-essentialist and anti-feminist film. However, the words that appear on the screen at the end of Nostalghia, "Dedicato a la memoria di mia madre," are both a dedication to Tarkovsky's mother and also a return to the first scene of the Madonna del Parto. It echoes the reason that inspired Piero to paint the Madonna del Parto in his mother's native village of Monterchi. Her death in November of 1459 is believed to be the catalyst for the fresco [24].

	~~:: The projected desire for the alleviation of pain after conception has been most likely a devotional power of the fresco since it was first painted [27].~~

	:: Utilitarian notions of freedom and the pursuit of happiness are bound up in Eugenia's character and it is on her shoulders that the full weight of Tarkovsky's judgment rests. In the modern age of safe and anesthetic births, a fertility ritual that recognizes the connection of pregnancy to mortal risk and suffering is perhaps the only way that Tarkovsky can polemicize his anti-feminist agenda. Thus the spoken element of the ritual which overlays its meaning upon the image of the Madonna's expression is orchestrated as an indictment both of feminism and of the West as a whole.

	:: Tarkovsky's concept of male/female polarity is stated succinctly in his journal: "What is a woman's driving force? Submission, humiliation in the name of love. And a man's? Creation" [29]. Creation for Tarkovsky is always artistic. Furthermore, artistic creation is visualized in terms of procreation and conception. In Sculpting in Time he writes, "It is like childbirth ... The poet has nothing to be proud of: he is not master of the situation, but a servant" [30]. Note that in this instance, not only is the creative force associated with childbirth but also with the female trait of submission. Thus within Tarkovsky's concept of male artistic creation, we find aspects that are similar to those of pregnancy and childbirth: the work matures as a child does, and the artist during the process of creation experiences the same humility and submission that the woman does in miraculous, selfless love for the man.

	:: The implications of this fetish for the rest of the film are shattering in regard to Eugenia. Throughout, the correlation between the Madonna and Gorchakov's wife are exhaustively sexualized. Gorchakov's remark to Domenico that his wife is like the Madonna del Parto "ma piu nera," goes without saying. Furthermore, Tarkovsky's treatment of Eugenia's costume resonates as the unsettling frustration of the pregnancy fetish. Throughout the film, until the final scene where she has submitted to Vittorio, Eugenia is seen wearing voluptuous, loose clothing; these clothes connote sensuality to the viewer but to Gorchakov they simply underline the void of her belly. In this sense, the film sustains a dramatic irony whereby Eugenia, oblivious to the implications of her encounter with the Madonna and unaware of Gorchakov's dreams of his pregnant wife, remains mystified by Gorchakov's frigidity. This dramatic irony reaches its height when Eugenia mistakenly offers Gorchakov her breast and asks "Is this what you want?" A sexual encounter without conception is simply not within Gorchakov's erotic imagination. Through this reading provided by Freud's notion of the fetish, the romantic non-event of Nostalghia becomes intelligible.

	A: "She's like that but all black [ma piu nera]." "More black?" "But darker"?		A: "She's like that but all black [ma piu nera]." "More black?" "But darker"?