The most powerful thing about the film is not in it' (REPOST)
by - BannerHill (Wed May 24 2006 02:51:03 )
When I first started researching the film, I found an interview with Ang Lee in The Kansas City Star. In it he said "It wasn't until I got into the editing room that I realized that the most powerful thing about the film is not in it; it is about what might have been."
This amazed me for two reasons.
1) It reassured me that this film is powerful for reasons that are not shown on the screen and
2) I realized that in some ways, Ang Lee did not entirely know what he was creating. This is late in the filmmaking process to realise such a fundamental aspect.
I get the feeling that the film 'came together' as it was being made, which seems kind of strange.
Re: 'The most powerful thing about the film is not in it'
by - the_protector (Wed May 24 2006 04:14:24 ) UPDATED Wed May 24 2006 04:28:58
I agree Bannerhill, amazing statement.
"I get the feeling that the film 'came together' as it was being made, which seems kind of strange."
Well, most great works of art are never realized at the beginning. Like carving a figure out of marble, the masterpiece emerges slowly. Each strike of the chisel holds some uncertainty. And embracing that uncertainty is an essential act of the creative mind. If there as a road map laid out, marking steps from beginning to end, anyone could have made the film...like paint by numbers.
The fact that the movie came together as it was created reassures me that Ang and those working with him are true artists.
If you feel embarrassed, I'll be your pride.
If you need direction, I'll be your guide.
Re: 'The most powerful thing about the film is not in it'
by - bjblakeslee (Wed May 24 2006 04:27:56 ) This movie is a perfect example of a visual arts term called "negative space" -- where something's absence is an important part of the whole.
The most famous example in literature is from Sherlock Holmes:
Colonel Ross still wore an expression which showed the poor opinion which he had formed of my companion's ability, but I saw by the inspector's face that his attention had been keenly aroused.
"You consider that to be important?" he asked.
"Exceedingly so."
"Is there any point to which you would wish to draw my attention?"
"To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time."
"The dog did nothing in the night-time."
"That was the curious incident," remarked Sherlock Holmes.
The absences in this movie are utterly palpable -- what the characters say is important, what they don't say is often moreso.
The shadow of Jack's absence is extremely important at the end, yet his presence permeates the entire end of the film.
Sorry to anyone who didn't get it -- you missed out on something absolutely brilliant...
"From producer of "I, 'Cowbot," "Brokeback Fever Pitch," and "HomoVertiphobiGo"...
Re: 'The most powerful thing about the film is not in it'
by - littlewing1957 (Wed May 24 2006 09:16:30 ) << The absences in this movie are utterly palpable -- what the characters say is important, what they don't say is often moreso.
The shadow of Jack's absence is extremely important at the end, yet his presence permeates the entire end of the film.
Sorry to anyone who didn't get it -- you missed out on something absolutely brilliant...>> This aspect of the movie has fascinated me from the first viewing.
Re: 'The most powerful thing about the film is not in it'
by - agrawal_alka (Wed May 24 2006 11:45:13 ) Do you have a link to the article?
Link to the Kansas City Star interview w/ Ang Lee?
by - j01560403 (Wed May 24 2006 13:25:49 ) Yes, I too would like to see the whole article, I can't find it so far, do you have a link to it BannerHill? tks.
Tell you what...
I've heard...
by - bkamberger (Wed May 24 2006 13:11:55 ) ...that it's common for Hollywood directors to say, as they go into the editing room, "Let's see if we made a good movie." Ang Lee made one, and that's all that counts.
Re: I've heard...
by - undercarriage 6 days ago (Wed May 24 2006 15:16:31 )However I agree with OP about 'something' ocurring in this movie.
I wrote a piece for a local paper, saying just that, when I first saw it.
I was still, at that point raving about the film and I asked rhetorically if it was simply the fact that everything lined up almost supernaturally and went into synch and produced this amazing work of art. As if it took on a life of its own?
Because it was the right time? It had to be seen? It had to happen?
I am in no way spiritual or religious but it seemed fateful that the film came together like it did.
http://www.meanderingtrevor.blogspot.comRe: I've heard...
by - BannerHill 6 days ago (Wed May 24 2006 18:25:29 ) UPDATED Wed May 24 2006 22:15:13
I checked my bookmark to the Kansas City Star from last January but it is no longer active. I was stunned when I read this article.
Anyone know how to locate it? The article might have appeared in October, November, or december
Re: I've heard...
by - (name removed by request) 1 day ago (Mon May 29 2006 15:04:21 ) Is this the article you’re looking for?
Back to Brokeback - Kansas City Star January 1, 2006
http://dementedslinkybrain.blogspot.com/2006/01/back-to-brokeback-kansas-city-star.html “It wasn’t until I was editing the movie that I realized that the most powerful thing in the movie isn’t there — it’s about what could have been.”
