August 3, 2006
Lovers of the Arctic Circle
Reviewer:Craig PhillipsRating (out of 5): ***½
From the mesmerizing opening shots to the haunting finale, Julio Medem's Lovers of the Artic Circle will have you in its thrall. Crossing back and forth in time seamlessly, the film traces the love story of two step-siblings who are seemingly pre-destined for each other. The love story is beautiful, if perhaps a little, pardon the expression, cold - but as a cinematic journey and exploration of the mysteries of the heart it works a spell. Medem's audacious direction occasionally steps over the line of preciousness, but rarely to its detriment. In fact, fans of the later, more popular film Amelie will appreciate it, even if Lovers is a darker and deeper work, with perhaps more in common with the work of Alain Resnais. Alberto Iglesias's lovely neo-classical score adds to the hypnotic effect. The film is essentially cinematic poetry. Posted by cphillips at August 3, 2006 10:49 AM | TrackBack
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