Sunrise (F.W. Murnau, 1927) The only other time I've ever seen Sunrise, it was on a VHS rental that seemed to be a copy of a copy: the picture left much to be desired, and the tracking failed to fix it properly. Even then I knew I was in the presence of something great. Thankfully the better-quality DVD is on Netflix so I could even better appreciate its brilliance, its beauty. It would be a mistake to underestimate the film's slow pacing and occasional forays into melodrama: those are not its flaws, but its accomplishments. The DVD commentary pointed out many facets of individual scenes that I would not have noticed, camera placement and so on. This may be the closest to a perfect silent film that was ever created.
There are several shots that I can safely say I love.
1. The moon in the sky as the Farmer walks along the countryside to his rendezvous with the Woman from the City.
2. The City Woman's walk from her room down to the lake.
3. The long shot of the Wife sitting in the boat while her husband is chasing the dog.
4. The City Woman's crazy little dance by the water, just after the dreamlike shots of city life superimposed overhead.
5. The Maid's joy toward the end of the film.
6. The very last couple of shots.
This film is sheer poetry, a must-see for lovers of cinema. A work of art if any motion picture ever was. 10/10
There are several shots that I can safely say I love.
1. The moon in the sky as the Farmer walks along the countryside to his rendezvous with the Woman from the City.
2. The City Woman's walk from her room down to the lake.
3. The long shot of the Wife sitting in the boat while her husband is chasing the dog.
4. The City Woman's crazy little dance by the water, just after the dreamlike shots of city life superimposed overhead.
5. The Maid's joy toward the end of the film.
6. The very last couple of shots.
This film is sheer poetry, a must-see for lovers of cinema. A work of art if any motion picture ever was. 10/10