If you are a filmmaker or you appreciate a film that is derivative of classic literature, history, and the class system, watch Snowpiercer!
The concept for Snowpiercer originated in a french graphic novel "Le Transperceneige" created in the early 80's - a time in history when the Cold War was beginning to thaw, liberty was taking over the world, and the concept of pollution was turning into a global cause.
Korean Director Bong Joon-ho (my new director hero) stumbled on to an illegal Korean translation of Le_Transperceneige in a book store and he read it in its entirety once he cracked it open.
I've been extremely fortunate in my life to study films from around the world since my mother taught literature and film, and wrote a book on world cinema. Many of today's filmmakers will acknowledge influence by contemporary or modern greats such as the likes of Scorsese, Spielberg, Hitchcock, and Kurosawa, when they don't know any of the films that inspired these greats.
Within Snowpiercer, first and foremost, I see 1925's USSR film "Battleship Potemkin," then Germany's 1927 incredible expressionistic film "Metropolis," and then France's "Germinal," first put to screen in 1913, with numerous remakes, including my favorite version from 1993 starring Gérard Depardieu who's performance was brilliant. There are other influences, particularly some German films from UFA in the 30's and 40's, and topping off with an ending that's typical of the French New Wave.
Snowpiercer presents poverty at its worst, a class system that is evil, and a time and place where industry has destroyed the world. This movie is amazing and brilliant. Not allowing this movie to have a wide release in the USA was a huge mistake, and the release company just had absolutely no idea or clue as to what they actually had. This film will slowly circulate and people will see it, and its brilliance will be eventually be known.
If you ever have a chance, see the old films I mentioned. You will be shocked as to how the themes and concepts of these films have survived in filmmaking today.
The concept for Snowpiercer originated in a french graphic novel "Le Transperceneige" created in the early 80's - a time in history when the Cold War was beginning to thaw, liberty was taking over the world, and the concept of pollution was turning into a global cause.
Korean Director Bong Joon-ho (my new director hero) stumbled on to an illegal Korean translation of Le_Transperceneige in a book store and he read it in its entirety once he cracked it open.
I've been extremely fortunate in my life to study films from around the world since my mother taught literature and film, and wrote a book on world cinema. Many of today's filmmakers will acknowledge influence by contemporary or modern greats such as the likes of Scorsese, Spielberg, Hitchcock, and Kurosawa, when they don't know any of the films that inspired these greats.
Within Snowpiercer, first and foremost, I see 1925's USSR film "Battleship Potemkin," then Germany's 1927 incredible expressionistic film "Metropolis," and then France's "Germinal," first put to screen in 1913, with numerous remakes, including my favorite version from 1993 starring Gérard Depardieu who's performance was brilliant. There are other influences, particularly some German films from UFA in the 30's and 40's, and topping off with an ending that's typical of the French New Wave.
Snowpiercer presents poverty at its worst, a class system that is evil, and a time and place where industry has destroyed the world. This movie is amazing and brilliant. Not allowing this movie to have a wide release in the USA was a huge mistake, and the release company just had absolutely no idea or clue as to what they actually had. This film will slowly circulate and people will see it, and its brilliance will be eventually be known.
If you ever have a chance, see the old films I mentioned. You will be shocked as to how the themes and concepts of these films have survived in filmmaking today.