29 lines
3.3 KiB
Plaintext
29 lines
3.3 KiB
Plaintext
alchemy is steeped in shades of blue .
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kieslowski's blue , that is .
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with its examination of death , isolation , character restoration , and recovery from loss , suzanne myers' new independent film echoes the polish director's internationally-acclaimed 1993 release .
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language aside , the principal difference between the films is that , while kieslowski took great pains to draw us into the main character's world , alchemy keeps its viewers at arm's length .
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as a result , while we're able to appreciate the film's intellectual tapestry , it is emotionally distant .
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alchemy is divided into three chapters : " charity " , " faith " , and " hope " .
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while there are common themes and story elements running through all three , the single constant is the main character , a sculptor/russian translator named louisa ( rya kihlstedt ) .
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when the film opens , she's living with her painter boyfriend , whom she believes to be cheating on her .
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following his sudden death in an automobile accident , louisa's life is thrown into turmoil .
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events swirls around her , and she can't find a source of stability .
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in her quest to make sense out of her loss , she befriends her late boyfriend's mistress , visits her ill sister , and , eventually , abandons her old life by joining a " back-to- nature " cult .
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alchemy successfully explores a variety of compelling issues .
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in addition to asking the basic question of how a person should cope with the unexpected death of a loved one , it probes beneath the surface of concepts like the importance of faith in the healing process , the meaning of love , and the nature of art .
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does personality restoration come through interacting with others or escaping from the familiar ?
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are artistic epiphanies the result of focused solitude or of living life , with all of its various distractions , to the fullest ?
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myers' challenge is to make these subjects , art film staples , engrossing in a new context .
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through louisa's struggles , she succeeds .
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while alchemy isn't always emotionally appealing , it never loses its fascination .
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even when we're not connecting with louisa , who is often more of a locus for ideas than a fully-developed personality , there's enough material on-screen to hold our attention .
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the cinematography is stunning .
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city scenes are tinted with blue , adding a cold , bleak dimension to the film's early portions .
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later , when louisa reaches the " wilderness " , we're treated to a dazzling array of autumnal splendor -- brightly-colored leaves in the trees and on the ground .
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it's a startling-but-effective visual contrast that emphasizes the changes taking place in louisa's life as she travels the road back to emotional stability .
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the title refers to the practice of a group of mystical faith- healers who use " alchemy " to provide for the needs of the body and soul .
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and , although louisa partakes of their peculiar brand of medicine , it's ultimately love and companionship , not alchemy , that brings solace .
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her pain is assuaged only when she lets go of the belief that the inherent safety of being alone is life's ultimate goal .
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even though louisa's final transformation lacks the impact it could have possessed had she been a more vital character , it's still an intriguing and enlightening process to watch .
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alchemy isn't pure magic , but , especially during its best moments , it's close .
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