tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149411832127844385.post250635450331374369..comments2024-03-22T14:34:39.101-04:00Comments on MONDO 70: A Wild World of Cinema: THE TAKING OF POWER BY LOUIS XIV (1966)Samuel Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149411832127844385.post-87706106798248958512010-03-18T16:47:51.581-04:002010-03-18T16:47:51.581-04:00"I'm a historian by vocation. In practice..."I'm a historian by vocation. In practice my work has ranged from writing a thesis on antislavery politics in Massachusetts to teaching a film history course in a community college once upon a time."<br /><br />This is what I expected to hear Samuel, as your historical prowess has been very much in evidence. And like you I acquired the Eclipse set as well as the film you review here, and they are all magnificent. The gorgeous compositions and framing of LOUIS XIV make it a pleasure to look at, and both the deer hunt and multi-course scenes are superlative. But Rossellini's filming style is perfectly posed here:<br /><br />"Rossellini's most important directorial decisions are matters of pace. He films in long takes and lets scenes breathe. The deliberate pace helps perpetuate the illusion of living in the past, and it fits the ceremonial pace of court life. It lets you see how important physical proximity to power is to the nobles, whether they attend the king when he wakes up in the morning or compete to be the first to view Mazarin's corpse...."<br /><br />An engaging review of a film that has received favorable re-assessment in recent years, and a visually ravashing work.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9149411832127844385.post-183302584156980502010-03-18T09:51:53.160-04:002010-03-18T09:51:53.160-04:00"Le Roi Pimpedelique" is awesome. :)"Le Roi Pimpedelique" is awesome. :)The Vicar of VHShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06832137990485130735noreply@blogger.com