The Cinema of Paolo Sorrentino by Russell Kilbourn

Author:Russell Kilbourn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: PER004010, Performing Arts/Film/Direction & Production, PER004030, Performing Arts/Film/History & Criticism
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Published: 2020-06-02T00:00:00+00:00

FIGURE 7.4 Youth

Nevertheless, the Hitler movie will not be made. Ironically, it was necessary for Hitler to make one more appearance here, in Sorrentino’s movie, in order for this realization to find expression. Following a final close-up on Boyle’s contemplative face, this scene is succeeded by a straight cut to a close-up of the back of the Tibetan monk’s shaved head, Bigazzi’s camera executing one of its signature curving tracks back and down, to a medium shot gradually revealing the monk, levitating, a meter above the ground, against a background of mountains and clouds, triumphant music swelling on the soundtrack, indicating that this image—like Tree’s monologue just before—is not to be taken lightly (figure 7.5). This also signals a turning point for Ballinger, who more than once insists that the monk can’t actually levitate. The fact that he succeeds means that anything is possible: that Ballinger could go to Venice to visit his sick wife; that he could go to London and conduct his Simple Songs without her there to sing them. And, in the end, Youth is revealed to be the transnational art cinematic equivalent of Ballinger’s middlebrow, popular-serious musical composition.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.