Conference bookie::movies

224.0. "Tous Les Matins du Monde" by MLTVAX::BROWN (On time or else...) Thu Jun 17 1993 22:16

    "Tous Les Matins Du Monde" takes place in France in the late 1600's
    and chronicles the relationship of M. de Sainte-Colombe, his two
    daughter's, and his student, Marin Marais.  Sainte-Colombe is a
    gifted musician, playing the viol with an intensity and passion
    arousing both admiration and envy.  The story is narrated by
    Marais and spans roughly 25 years.
    
    The writing is spare -- Marais characterizes his teacher this
    way:  "He was all austerity and rage.  He was as mute as a
    fish."  (It sounds classier in French.)  The movie refuses to
    be rushed, and lingers over details -- a face expressing grief,
    fingers moving along strings, a glass of wine in candlelight.
    At first, some of the audience was restless, but after they
    absorbed the pacing, everyone quieted down.  At the end of
    the film, during the climactic scene, we all held our breath,
    waiting for the next line, and for the next note of the viol.
    
    The emphasis is on the characters -- the movie moves in tune
    to their grief, anger, happiness, lust, and longing.  These
    are not Hollywood faces.  Each actor shows their experiences
    on their face and in their gestures.  With the sparseness
    of the dialog, movement becomes very important.
    
    Like musical embellishments, there are notes of religious
    symbols and supernatural occurrences.  These notes always
    spring from the emotions of the actors.
    
    I'd recommend this movie for anyone with an interest is music,
    especially Baroque music or string instruments.  Good writing,
    acting, and cinematography.  (And, the subtitles were big
    enough to read, even for me...).
    
    Ron

    The soundtrack to this album has been a best-seller on the classical
    music charts for quite a while, so when it came to the Brattle in
    Harvard Square this weekend we checked it out.
    
    "The movie refuses to be rushed" is a bit understated: this is one
    slow-moving picture.  But if you don't mind that, it's pretty good.
    It piqued my curiosity about French baroque music, which I don't know
    very well.  But the movie's philosophizing about music is a bit on the
    bizarre side.

>>    "Tous Les Matins Du Monde" takes place in France in the late 1600's
>>  and chronicles the relationship of M. de Sainte-Colombe, his two
>>  daughter's, and his student, Marin Marais.
     
Were these real people or just fictitious characters in a movie?  The reason 
I ask is that I thought I saw Marin Marais name among the list of composers 
of the music used in the film during the ending credits.

Saw it the other night on Bravo.  Very slow.  Not a movie for a Saturday night
when you're  tired and in a prone position on your sofa. :)
     
Walker