- Actors: Lars Nordh, Stefan Larsson, Bengt C.W. Carlsson, Torbjörn Fahlström, Sten Andersson
- Directors: Roy Andersson
- Writers: Roy Andersson
- Producers: Roy Andersson, Johan Mardell, Lisa Alwert, Philippe Bober, Sanne Glæsel
- Format: Anamorphic, Color, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC, Import
- Language: Swedish
- Subtitles: English
- Region: (US and Canada This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
- Number of discs: 1
- MPAA Rating:
- Studio: New Yorker Video
- Release Date: Mar 23 2004
- Run Time: 98 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B0001AP0PE
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product Details |
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An absolute gem,
By
This review is from: Songs from the Second Floor (DVD)
I first saw this film IIRC in 2001 at the Roger Ebert Overlooked Film Festival ("Ebertfest") in Champaign-Urbana. I instantly fell in love with the film -- it was clearly the best film at the festival. And then I waited for DVD release... and waited... and waited. Finally I received my copy, some 4+ years after the film was released.Upon watching it again, I felt it lost something compared to the presentation on the massive screen and enthusiastic 800+ audience at the Virginia Theatre. The visuals are intentionally drab, but incredibly rich and detailed; hence, the small screen is not kind. Also, like much absurdist art, it is difficult to recapture the emotional shock and wonderment of the first viewing. But yet the movie is still compelling on DVD. This Swedish comedy is dark, brooding, irreverent and often times disturbing. From the grey skies to the traffic-jammed streets to the predominantly obese and ashen-faced cast, this movie makes no attempt to be be pretty or cheery. However, certain scenes of despair are so full of beauty, one smiles despite oneself. I am reminded of certain scenes from the work of Terry Gilliam. The plot is rather simple: things are not going well in this fictional Scandinavian city and the citizens are getting desperate. Don't ask why or where -- it's truly unimportant. Woven into this fabric is Caesar Vallejo's poem "Beloved be the man who sits down," the verses of which form a a type of modern beatitudes extolling the merits of the mundane individual. In the movie, the poem is written by the protaganist's son, who now resides in a mental hospital. Ironically, the people in the patients in the mental hospital appear to be the only sane residents in a city gone loopy as capitalism, government and religion fail its increasingly desperate and selfish citizens. A great film to see, but really not for everyone.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Esthetically stunning and visually poetic...,
By
This review is from: Songs from the Second Floor (DVD)
Songs from the Second Floor is visually stunning as it esthetically illustrates a cynical view of the human existence. This view consists of a kaleidoscope of scenes that personify desire, fear, guilt, and anxiety among other human traits. These human characteristics are symbolically tied up with the everlasting traffic jam that is depicted in the film as the characters are constantly unavailable for each other as they are trying to get somewhere better. This search could be a quest for happiness; however, the search itself might be the cause of the gloomy state of the characters. Songs from the Second Floor is based on a poem by Caesar Vallejo, and Andersson extracts the darkness of the verse as he brings a brilliant cinematic experience to the silver screen, which will cerebrally agonize the audience in a poetic and artistic manner.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Utterly original, funny, challenging film-making,
By
This review is from: Songs from the Second Floor (DVD)
Unique, funny, brave look at capitalist bureaucracy slowly destroying Swedish society, told through a series of beautifully photographed absurd and surreal vignettes. (Organized religion takes some lumps as well).The camera never moves, and each scene is a story told in a single wondrously composed and art-directed shot. Some pieces are more powerful than others, some funny, some tragic. But this is bold, adventurous filmmaking. Even it's failed moments are more interesting than most modern 'successes'. It's fascinating to see how much Andersson's style changed since his great first success 'A Swedish Love Story' 30 years earlier. That film was a subtle, naturalistic, wonderful look at young love. Here he creates what one critic aptly labeled 'Monty Python meets Ingmar Bergman'. I'd throw in ex-Monty Python Terry Gilliam's 'Brazil' as well. If that sounds at all interesting to you, check this out, as well as Andersson's equally terrific follow up, 'We, The Living'. (Note, the pace is very slow by modern cinema standards. but I found myself pulled into it, the way one is by good poetry). Sadly, this now seems out of print (as are so many great movies), so I advise you to grab it while you have the chance.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
