One of the best aspects of living in New York City is the constant flow of inspired film programming. 2011 was no exception. The year ended with a long time dream being fulfilled, seeing a 35mm print of Andrzej Zulawski's Possession in its uncut form. Film Forum screened a brand new print provided by the mysterious Bleeding Light Film Group for a 20 day run which started on December 2nd. During this time I went on the opening night and at the start of the winter solstice.
Possession is such a difficult film to write about because it constantly defies categorization and confounds expectations. Zulawski's film is directed with assurance on every single level. In the 30 years that have passed since it was made, it retains all of the bizarre magic and the spell that it casts. Possession mixes enormous drama with black humor throughout, though the sadness is what really shines through. What I love about Possession and nearly all Zulawski films is that the film and the world captured within feel so incredibly alive and electric. Not a single other filmmaker comes to mind that is able to create and sustain such an energy throughout the duration of a film.
Everything about Possession is top notch. Zulawski's directorial style is ever shifting yet incredibly tight. The much discussed color scheme is striking and it is no surprise that Dario Argento once claimed that Possession is one of his all time favorite films. It was to such a degree that it wound up inspiring the look of the photography in Argento's Tenebre. The expert cinematography by Bruno Nuytten compliments the direction perfectly, oscillating between controlled chaos and delicate movements. Also of note is the soundtrack by longtime Zulawski collaborator, Andrzej Korzynski. From the opening pulsating electronic theme, to the melancholic piano melodies, to the effected woodwind flourishes throughout and even the carnival absurdity of it all, the emotions of the film are encapsulated by the soundtrack.
As for the performances, both Sam Neill and Isabelle Adjani start at a fever pitch that remains over the course of the film though there are tender moments in between shrieking. The acting and the script call for such extreme emotions though somehow Zulawski is able to make the performances ring so truthfully. Isabelle Adjani gives one of the scariest and most nuanced performances ever committed to celluloid. She has referred to the film as 'emotional pornography.' Zulawski uses Adjani's otherworldly beauty and twists it inside and out. In this hermetically sealed off world, nothing is quite what is seems, beauty turns vulgar. The deserted subway scene is enormously difficult to put into words because ultimately our words fail us at times.
Possession is a marital drama though gradually shifts into something that becomes more murky and surreal throughout. It is the kind of work that is constantly asking questions, though thankfully leaves countless questions unanswered. Carlo Rimbaldi's creature effects add a whole other layer to the already dense puzzle. What is partially floating around the changing story is the feel of an H.P. Lovecraft tale. This of course is only one other part of Possession, since it is also a veiled political and even apocalyptic film. Possession is a film that dares to ask a series of questions that have no direct answers.
I hope that what appears to have been a successful and long overdue theatrical run turns into a much needed career retrospective for Andrzej Zulawski at some film center in the New York City area. For years now, I've felt that Zulawski is the most criminally unknown or undervalued living master director, especially in the United States. His body of work is stunning and comes from such a personal place. I remember reading an interview with the film journalist Daniel Bird at the beginning of last year where he said that the first United States based Zulawski career retrospective was being planned. With luck, that is still the case. Outside of being able to see prints of The Silver Globe and The Blue Note over the last several years, I've heard of no Zulawski film screenings occurring in New York or near to where I am.
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| Andrzej Zulawski directing Isabelle Adjani |
Fortunately, Mondo Vision is an exceptional DVD label that has been slowly releasing breathtakingly lavish editions of Zulawski's films. Thus far, they have released La Femme Publique, L'important C'est D'aimer, L'amour Braque and Szamanka. As far as I'm concerned, all of these films are essential viewing and are completely worth owning as well. All releases so far have come in two versions, one is a Special Edition which is wonderful and the other is a Limited Edition which is impeccable and contains an additional disc, with the original soundtrack of the given film along with other special features that actually enhance the experience and appreciation for Zulawski and his work. The next scheduled release by Mondo Vision is Possession.
http://mondo-vision.com/
