The color in this is exceptional. Makes even many of the rundown buildings and other architecture seem palpable. It sort of has a facetious start in that it's two children playing (it seems) in an abandoned area, where the female urinates on herself, then cuts to the title then shows a young boy (teenager, perhaps) urinating on the floor of either the same building or another similar to it then cuts to a funeral where that, too, seems to hold a facetious nature about it. Not so much laugh-out-loud comedy but just an underlining of it. It's a slow film; the story gradually taking hold of its plot. I felt even in the scenes where there was a lot of speaking (which were few) that it was quiet in those particular conversations.
The clichéd love story: Man (Lazar) and woman (Leni). The difference between this love story and most others is that this one survives primarily in the imaginary world that these two have created for each other since their childhood. The question is: can they bring it into the real world. There's really no consequences in imaginary worlds since the rules (if any) are created by those who made the world; but there are consequences in the real world and that's where love becomes tested. The imaginary world they love in (see what I did there?) together is metaphorical. It basically, as a whole: takes you on a bicycle ride throughout the Serbian landscape.
I enjoyed it. I read a review on this film recently that said something to the effect of (paraphrasing) "Americans would hate this." Well, I'm an American, and I didn't hate it. There was one part I could have done without: the narrator. He pops up throughout the film telling the story of Lazar and Leni as background characters.The narration wasn't necessary, especially the times he explained about what things were (such as the tornado) as if we're all stupid, or something and don't know what a tornado is. The interactions of the two main characters, their elation and tribulations, were enough to hold together the storytelling. If a narrator is to be used, voiceover is better, in my opinion.
I don't know if my subtitles confused "All Saint's Day" with "The Dsy of the Dead"; except in Mexico, (and western/southern parts of the US with high populations of Mexican-Americans) everyone else around the world celebrate "All Saint's Day" or "All Soul's Day", right? which is a part of the Catholic Church. Day of the Dead originates in Mexico because it was an Aztec celebration to a goddess they worshipped. Catholics claimed it as their own (as they do) and intergrated it into their society; which is why it's celebrated as a national holiday in Mexico. Didn't know Serbia did unless the translation was wrong and meant "All Soul's Day" or "All Saint's Day". Though, the scene at the cemetery is where the imaginary world perpetually ends, somewhat. Things get serious and a bit bittersweet. Like the sex scene near the end, seemed bittersweet.
Overall, I quite enjoyed it.
The clichéd love story: Man (Lazar) and woman (Leni). The difference between this love story and most others is that this one survives primarily in the imaginary world that these two have created for each other since their childhood. The question is: can they bring it into the real world. There's really no consequences in imaginary worlds since the rules (if any) are created by those who made the world; but there are consequences in the real world and that's where love becomes tested. The imaginary world they love in (see what I did there?) together is metaphorical. It basically, as a whole: takes you on a bicycle ride throughout the Serbian landscape.
I enjoyed it. I read a review on this film recently that said something to the effect of (paraphrasing) "Americans would hate this." Well, I'm an American, and I didn't hate it. There was one part I could have done without: the narrator. He pops up throughout the film telling the story of Lazar and Leni as background characters.The narration wasn't necessary, especially the times he explained about what things were (such as the tornado) as if we're all stupid, or something and don't know what a tornado is. The interactions of the two main characters, their elation and tribulations, were enough to hold together the storytelling. If a narrator is to be used, voiceover is better, in my opinion.
I don't know if my subtitles confused "All Saint's Day" with "The Dsy of the Dead"; except in Mexico, (and western/southern parts of the US with high populations of Mexican-Americans) everyone else around the world celebrate "All Saint's Day" or "All Soul's Day", right? which is a part of the Catholic Church. Day of the Dead originates in Mexico because it was an Aztec celebration to a goddess they worshipped. Catholics claimed it as their own (as they do) and intergrated it into their society; which is why it's celebrated as a national holiday in Mexico. Didn't know Serbia did unless the translation was wrong and meant "All Soul's Day" or "All Saint's Day". Though, the scene at the cemetery is where the imaginary world perpetually ends, somewhat. Things get serious and a bit bittersweet. Like the sex scene near the end, seemed bittersweet.
Overall, I quite enjoyed it.