Directed by: Anatole Litvak
Released: 1948
Country: United States
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Review
I have admired Olivia de Havilland since I watched Gone with the Wind. In the 1940s, she risked her career to fight for her rights. Back then she was under contract to Warner Bros. and the oppressive ''studio system'' required her to comply with every single demand made by the studio that employed her; the studios had the right to suspend the stars who refused to accept the roles they were offered. The period of time they spent in suspension would be added to the contract, extending the period they would have to work for the studio. Olivia de Havilland disliked the films she was offered- mostly period dramas and romantic comedies. In 1943, she sued Warner Bros. and it was a brave act against the studio system. She won the lawsuit and it weakened the control the studios had over the artists they employed.
Freed from the contract system, Olivia de Havilland pursued her career on her own terms and starred in such classics as To Each His Own (for which she won her first Oscar), The Snake Pit (for which she won a Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival) and The Heiress (which won her a second Academy Award).
''The Snake Pit'', directed by Anatole Litvak, is a raw and honest portrayal of the difficulties faced by patients in mental institutions. The protagonist, Virginia Stuart (played by de Havilland), falls in love with Robert Cunningham (played by Mark Stevens) and gets married to him. The first few days of the marriage are happy and peaceful but Virginia soon starts behaving abnormally, forgetting important things and losing track of dates. Things eventually get serious and Virginia starts displaying violent behavior. Terribly concerned for her, Robert has her institutionalized. Dr. Kiks (played by Leo Genn) tries to find out the roots of Virginia's illness. He believes Virginia's illness is caused by something that happened in her past. Something really traumatic from her past must have been affecting her present life and he thinks he will be able to bring her out of the maze she is trapped in only if he discovers what exactly casts a sinister shadow over her life.
Virginia encounters many people people on her journey towards recuperation. Some of them are kindly like Dr. Kiks. Some of the doctors she comes across are harsh and their actions have the ability to worsen her condition. Most nurses are kind; some of them are rude. She also becomes friends with some fellow patients. The most moving of the friendships she forms is, in my opinion, the one she forms with Hester (Betsy Blair), a violent patient who has stopped talking. Virginia is not intimidated by Hester and although plagued by troubles herself, she tries her best to make Hester feel better. I found this really touching.
''The Snake Pit'' was way ahead of its time. Mental illness was, in those days, not something you were supposed to discuss. The film defied societal restrictions and presented a deeply moving- and realistic- portrayal of mental illness and mental institutions. The film is brilliantly written and acted. Plotwise it's near perfect and I loved the gradual unfolding of the story. I loved how everything makes sense by the time the film ends.
Directed by: Luca Guadagnino
Released: 2017
Country: United States
Genre: Romantic drama
Rating: 5 out of 5
Review
''I have loved you for the last time
Is it a video? Is it a video?
I have touched you for the last time
Is it a video? Is it a video?
For the love, for laughter, I flew up to your arms
Is it a video? Is it a video?...''- ''Visions of Gideon'' (Sufjan Stevens)
Watching ''Call Me By Your Name'' I was haunted by the very same fear that bothers the protagonist, Elio (Timothée Chalamet), throughout the film: the fear of an inevitable parting, the fear of losing a loved one. What he goes through is so much more than a passing infatuation: it is the kind of love that one discovers only if they are lucky enough. As Chalamet mentioned in an interview, ''Call Me By Your Name'' does not focus on the social stigmas and taboos surrounding homosexuality; instead, it is a celebration of love for what it is.
The story takes place over the course of a single summer. Elio lives with his parents in Italy. His life is fairly monotonous until his father employs Oliver (played by Armie Hammer), a graduate student, as his research assistant. Oliver moves in with Elio's family. Elio is attracted to him and at the same times finds him slightly rude. Over the course of time, however, he finds himself falling for Oliver and when he- indirectly- confesses his feelings to Oliver, the latter is initially reluctant to respond because of the stigmas surrounding homosexuality, bet eventually they start a relationship. While their love each other gets deeper with the passage of time as they share adventures and beautiful moments, they are constantly haunted by the knowledge that this is not going to last forever.
''Call Me By Your Name'' is such a deeply moving film, such a sublimely beautiful love story. The chemistry between Elio and Oliver is developed so beautifully, with such care that we start living the story with them. And Timothée Chalamet, oh Timothée Chalamet, he delivers such an extraordinarily powerful performance, I am more than sure that he will receive an Oscar nomination for his role in this film. He brings Elio to life, making it possible for us to feel his longing, his fears, his love for Oliver. Armie Hammer is powerful in his role as Oliver. Michael Stuhlberg, playing Elio's supportive and understanding father, is brilliant as well. I also liked the performance by Esther Garrel, who, although playing a rather minor supporting role, shares an emotionally overwhelming scene with Chalamet near the end of the film.
''Call Me By Your Name'' is indeed a rare masterpiece, a simple yet breathtakingly beautiful film. The film left me shaken and in tears and I pondered several questions. Why do people come to our lives if they are not destined to stay there forever? Is it just how life works? Is it more important to just cherish the present, the beautiful moments that we spend together? These are questions that have always haunted me and this film provoked them in me all over again.
I will finish this review quoting a few lines from the song ''Visions of Gideon''- which plays a very important role in this film, reflecting Elio's longing for Oliver. I started the review with these lines and this is exactly how I will end it.
''I have loved you for the last time
Is it a video? Is it a video?
I have touched you for the last time
Is it a video? Is it a video?...''
Directed by: Anatole Litvak
