60’s Flashback
“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.” - Albert Einstein
I heard something earlier today that brought to mind one of my favorite films of the 60’s (or any decade, for that matter) - BLOW-UP - directed by Michaelangelo Antonioni and starring David Hemmimgs.
If you are too young to remember the 60’s (and if you use the internet much you probably are), you no doubt have at least some images of that unique decade in your mind. Political and campus unrest, war, Woodstock… Alas, none of them can give you a realistic idea of what those years “felt” like, living day to day. Blowup will. That, though, is not what makes the film interesting. Though perfectly suited to the 60’s, it would be a psychological masterpiece regardless of temporal or physical setting.
The story follows a few days in the life of Thomas, a successful young fashion photographer in London (allegedly modeled loosely on photographer David Bailey). He is at the pinnacle of his profession and oh-so-hip. But as we watch him it is clear that there is something not quite right in his enviable life. Behind the camera he is aware, incisive, in total control and alive. Away from it he appears to be detached from reality - unable to see, feel or touch in any meaningful way. One day while randomly taking pictures in a park he encounters a distraught woman - distraught by his picture taking. Over the next few days he moves in and out of his work related activities, social events and chance encounters/distractions (including what may have been the first exposure of female pudenda in western mainstream cinema), all the while becoming more intrigued by the woman and what he may or may not have been witness to in that park.
The film revolves around that - Thomas’ detachment, inability to discern reality from imagination or to connect. I will not spoil the plot. Suffice it to say it is brilliant and includes one nighttime scene in the park, when Thomas returns to try to finally determine what had gone on there, that is an almost eerie blend of existential/zen starkness. It’s wonderful.
Should you come across it, watch it. And watch for scene in a club with a live band playing. The band, you have probably never heard of - The Yardbirds. They had a few hits but could not be regarded as major stars - though their cult-ish following was significant indeed. What is noteworthy about the group is that it gave birth to 3 of the best known and most influential guitarists at the time and since: Eric Clapton, Jimmy Paige (Led Zeppelin) and Jeff Beck. You can catch the clip on YouTube: Yardbirds.
After writing the above I came across the following excellent lengthy review/analysis of the film: ALTERNATIVE FILM GUIDE
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