2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25
If you briefly answer the question: "Arthouse - what is it?", then this movie is not for everyone. I mean tapes for intellectuals, for those people who are looking for a deep meaning in every phenomenon of life, for philosophically inclined, and also prone to romance.
There is, however, the so-called arthouse with elements. It is for fans of erotic cinema, for example, and even with scenes of cruelty. Thrillers, various kinds of “horror films” can also be attributed to this group.
Gourmet cinema halls
"Films are not for everyone," one might say.
That's right. For a long time, this genre of art was the most in demand. More than one generation grew up on it. Even now, the greatest box office receipts are made by tapes designed for the mass audience. So people are not offended.
By the way, the very term arthouse (“house of arts”) appeared in the USA in the early 40s of the last century. Then cinemas began to operate, showing pre-war classics shot in Hollywood, foreign films, as well as local films created on the principles of independent production. Add here also films designed forrepresentatives of ethnic minorities in America.
For film distribution, such halls, where films were played, obviously not designed for the general public, have become a special niche. And today a similar situation exists in many countries.
You ask: "From the point of view of finance, arthouse - what is it?" Alas, these films do not have solid budgets. They usually cost less than $10 million. Do not shine and special effects. Hence, no multi-million dollar box office.
But the creators of "author's cinema" do not have profit in the first place. The idea is to help viewers understand the world, look at it with an extraordinary look. This position makes it necessary to search for a new language, a different format for filming.
The plot is almost irrelevant
Storyline in an arthouse is usually in second place. Here, the “close-up” shows the inner world of the characters, their feelings, reasoning, and conclusions. This is not a so-called Hollywood movie, not soap series, where the idea is unpretentious and light, the characters are simple and understandable, the music is cheerful, the special effects are impressive. With all this, the people are satisfied, and the creators of the next masterpiece, too.
Arthouse looks fundamentally different. And he has fans. They get a lot of emotions, sitting in their "niche". They begin to think about life seriously and deeply, they try to look at the world through the eyes of other people. They also get the desire to become creators, only in their own industry, of course.
Volchok won many awards
Filmmakersconstantly looking for new means of expression. And resorting to non-standard solutions, the authors of the "other cinema" often make real discoveries in art.
Here's an example of a Russian arthouse - the film "Volchok" directed by Vasily Sigarev (2009). The young woman returned from prison. It bears the terrible mark of a murderer. She tries to forget about the past, wants to find personal happiness. At the same time, she completely does not pay attention to her little daughter, whom she had not even seen before. And the lonely, abandoned child himself became like a wolf cub, playing with his favorite toy-top, which his mother almost accidentally gave her …
This psychological drama received a lot of awards at Kinotavr (Best Film, Best Screenplay - Vasily Sigarev, Best Actress - Yana Troyanova), the White Elephant Award in the Best Film nomination, and also first places at film festivals in Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Ukraine, as well as "Nika" for the best camera work.
You can see for yourself: the best arthouse movies are a real treat for movie gourmets.
Piggy bank of genres
By the way, Russian arthouse is also a variety of genres. Alternative cinema has not only melodrama feature films, but also documentaries (for example, Walking with Brodsky, 2000) and even cartoons (Rain from Top to Down, 2007, Nika award).
Among foreign films, the title of the best will certainly be given to the first premiere of 2015 from Arthouse Traffic - the film "The Man Who Was Too Much Loved" (France). This crime melodrama was released in Russian distribution 1January of the new year. Starring Catherine Deneuve and Guillaume Canet. Given the types of actors, it is worth making an independent opinion about this masterpiece.
It is noteworthy that the film is based on real events. In Nice, the young daughter of the owner of a luxurious casino disappeared without a trace. And the day before, she betrayed her mother, telling local mafiosi about her affairs … It was many years ago, but in France, interest in the mysterious death of the girl and this whole scandalous story has not subsided so far. Moreover, a novel has already been written about this and a film has been made. And recently, a suspect was put on trial for the third time…
No one will be indifferent
We hope that after reading this article, you will stop wondering and asking: "Arthouse - what is it?" And you can understand alternative cinema. You might even like it. You can't help but like, for example, "Mermaid" - a romantic melodrama by Anna Melkian. Or the film story "Closed Spaces" - about the loneliness of teenagers, by Igor Vorskla. For each, the criteria by which the best art house is determined are different. As a contrast to the options proposed above, "The Kitty" is a psychological comedy by Gregory of Constantinople. It is glued together from five mini-stories. In one, the hero is a baby, in another, a teenager, in a third, and so on, a successful businessman, an unsuccessful writer, an old ballerina. And everyone tells about his life, so unlike all the others … And even Ivan Vyrypaev's rap parable "Oxygen" will surely cause a storm of positive emotions. Or abusive … That's just, I think, indifference is notwill.
Abroad
Filmmakers in Italy, Germany, France and other countries can also boast that they create the best arthouse films. Suffice it to recall the drama "Chungking Express" (Hong Kong, directed by Wong Kar-Wai), Federico Fellini's autobiographical work "Mama's Boys" and "Nights of Cabiria" (Italy), "Seven Samurai" by Akira Kurosawa (Japan). But all this is a classic, inscribed in history with an iron pen.
However, films of our time are also interesting: “Little Finger of Buddha” (Germany, 2013), “Mirror” (Belgium, 2013), “The Road He Chooses” (Brazil, 2014) and others.
Word of mouth
As you know, the best advertising is word of mouth. So you tell your friends and colleagues so that they don’t have a question: “Arthouse - what is it?” What if they like it? And there will be more fans of this curious genre.
Yes, and small, chamber, so-called "arthouse" cinemas with their special atmosphere and subsequent discussion of the film will increase. Pictures intended for a general audience will definitely not get here. After all, this is also a festival film, and documentaries, and animation, and genre works.
Indeed, there is something to watch and think about. But it is especially pleasing that our directors are not inferior to imported ones and create real masterpieces worthy of attention.
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