MAMI 2011 Review Series: To read the first one click here.
Year: 2011
Director: Alexander Sokurov
Gist: Based on Goethe's and Dr. Thomas Mann's interpretation of legend of Faust. Sokurov's final film in a series of three, exploring the theme of corruption.
Script: Faust's life and times beautifully captured on camera - nothing less and nothing more to it excepting a few liberties in the interpretation. The storyline has a nice rhythm built within and enough moments to surprise in between.
Acting: Stupendous by Johannes Zeiler as Faust and Anton Adasinsky as Mephistopheles. Faust's character goes from doubt to romance to conviction to redemption and Zeiler has mapped all those moods out in perfect harmony. Adasinsky as the sinister moneylender works his way through Faust and the audience alike. Can't really say, that there was anyone else who wasn't upto the mark either.
Filmmaking craft: One of the best shot movies and full credit to DOP Bruno Delbonnel ( Amelie, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) who unleashes his full range of expertise. Some fabulous sets bring in the period touch flawlessly. About the storytelling, I am not so sure because I did think there were a few moments when the movie dragged on. The movie spoke to me from a high plane and I did wonder if a more simplistic version would've been the way around. But then again the beauty of Faust's legend was his complex character so maybe, Sokurov's version was the way to go about.
What I must confess here is that I have neither read the base material or seen the other film versions to deliver a more comprehensive verdict.
Piece de resistance moments: The opening and closing scenes. Unbeatable.
In a nutshell: Enjoyed watching it.
Rating: 6.9/10
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