World film project: Russia
Jun. 28th, 2020 04:09 pmWe were a bit spoiled for choice with Russian films, but ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jack had heard good things about I am dragon (2015, dir Indar Dzhendubaev). Basically, it's a fairly standard subverted fairy tale where a princess is kidnapped by a dragon and decides she prefers the dragon to the knight who is supposed to rescue her.
The film is absolutely unbelievably gorgeous visually. Lovely landscapes, amazing use of colour, drool-worthy (though implausible) costumes. And the shadow puppets for the framing story are so pretty. Also very pretty music.
The developing relationship between Mira and Arman is rather charming, if you suspend disbelief and accept fairy-tale logic. It's not very sexually explicit, there's a lot of nudity but not much actual sex beyond soft-focus snogging, but it has something of the feel of soft porn somehow. It's very much in the genre of all those paranormal romances where the male love interest is a horrible monster but is also the perfect fantasy man. I thought it did quite an interesting job of addressing the tension inherent to falling in love with a powerful supernatural being. But also had plenty of hurt/comfort and smouldering angst and all the elements that make that kind of ravishment fantasy appealing.
Anyway, not exactly a work of genius, but very pleasant for a somewhat tired date night.
Next up: Mexico and then Japan, which I imagine should give us plenty of options. Does anyone have a recommendation for a Mexican film, ideally 21st century and not too violent or depressing?
jack had heard good things about I am dragon (2015, dir Indar Dzhendubaev). Basically, it's a fairly standard subverted fairy tale where a princess is kidnapped by a dragon and decides she prefers the dragon to the knight who is supposed to rescue her. The film is absolutely unbelievably gorgeous visually. Lovely landscapes, amazing use of colour, drool-worthy (though implausible) costumes. And the shadow puppets for the framing story are so pretty. Also very pretty music.
The developing relationship between Mira and Arman is rather charming, if you suspend disbelief and accept fairy-tale logic. It's not very sexually explicit, there's a lot of nudity but not much actual sex beyond soft-focus snogging, but it has something of the feel of soft porn somehow. It's very much in the genre of all those paranormal romances where the male love interest is a horrible monster but is also the perfect fantasy man. I thought it did quite an interesting job of addressing the tension inherent to falling in love with a powerful supernatural being. But also had plenty of hurt/comfort and smouldering angst and all the elements that make that kind of ravishment fantasy appealing.
Anyway, not exactly a work of genius, but very pleasant for a somewhat tired date night.
Next up: Mexico and then Japan, which I imagine should give us plenty of options. Does anyone have a recommendation for a Mexican film, ideally 21st century and not too violent or depressing?
