Comments on: Modern Mondays: Innocence (2004)

by: Phantom of Pulp

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:04:26 +0100

I agree with all comments here. “Innocence” is an extraordinary film, and the use of natural sounds is inspired. I appreciate that it never attempts to explain or define its world. We define it for ourselves as viewers.

by: Kimberly Lindbergs

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:28:07 +0100

Alexandra - Your comments about the color are spot-on! I love the saturated look of the film at time combined with occasional bright splashes of color. It’s an amazing looking movie!

Christianne - I’m glad you’re fond of the film too. I like Noe’s work a lot, but I do agree with you that this film is much more about creating a deep sense of unease within the audience. Noe like to take a jackhammer to his audience, but I think both approaches have their place. It’s definitely one of my favorite films of the decade as well!

by: Christianne

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:24:17 +0100

I LOVED this film. It’s gorgeous, and it finds pressure points of unease more unerringly than the blunt instruments in all of Gaspar Noe’s film combined. It’s one of my favorite horror films of the aughts.

by: Alexandra

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 09:19:14 +0100

Glad to read some positive comments on this film! I saw it and loved it, but I could never understand the “child pornography” or “cinema of child exploitation” arguments that I read about it. (I likewise find them more disturbing than the actual film.)

In addition to the use of sound, I was really astonished by the selective use of bright color against the muted backdrop of the natural world.

by: Kimberly Lindbergs

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 05:53:18 +0100

Peter - It’s a fascinating film but it seemed to divide many critics. I find the arguments calling it “child pornography” much more disturbing than the actual film. I’d love to hear what you think of it after you see it.

by: Peter Nellhaus

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:00:28 +0100

I was thinking I should add this film to my Netflix queue. Then I took some time to look and found that it’s been crawling up the queue for some time! Something to look forward to.

by: Kimberly Lindbergs

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:52:39 +0100

AR - I’d think you’d find the film really interesting! Noe seems to really divide critics, but I’m personally really fond of his work and I think he’s one of the most interesting directors making films right now.

Lucile Hadzihalilovic has worked with Noe on most of his films as an editor, etc. but I think she’s really talented in her own right and I’m looking forward to seeing more of her work in the future.

by: AR

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:18:14 +0100

I saw a trailer for this a couple of months ago and decided I had to see it at some point. Good to hear positive commentary from someone whose opinion I respect.

I haven’t seen any of Gaspar Noe’s work yet. Irreversible is another of those films I’d like to see at some point.

by: Kimberly Lindbergs

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:29:49 +0100

Bob - It’s also one of the few films (short of “The Women”) where I don’t believe there is a single speking part for a male.

Very true! I wish I would have had more time to write about the film but I wanted to get this posted yesterday and it was kind of a rush job. It’s definitely one of the smartest and most interesting feminist films that I’ve seen in recent years.

by: Bob Turnbull

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:17:02 +0100

It’s a beautiful film and you pointed out a few things (the sound field) that I didn’t latch onto the first time. It’s also one of the few films (short of “The Women”) where I don’t believe there is a single speking part for a male. You barely even see any males onscreen…

by: Kimberly Lindbergs

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:18:37 +0100

I wish I had seen it on the big screen, myself. I think it would be a really amazing theatrical experience.

Hadzihalilovic is a fascinating director/producer and I’m really looking forward to her next film, Evolution. The write-ups I’ve read make it sound like it could be a similar film about youth, but told from the male perspective since it’s about young boys.

by: Brian

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:03:31 +0100

Wish I had seen this one when it played the film festival; I don’t believe it ever got a release theatrically here in SF, but glad to learn it’s on DVD.