3/5/2015 10GreatMinimalistFilmsThatAreWorthYourTimeTasteofCinema

http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/10greatminimalistfilms/2/ 1/12

Skiptocontent

TasteOfCinemaMovieReviewsandClassicMovieLists

tasteofcinema

MainMenu

FilmListsPeopleListsOtherListsReviewsAboutWriteForUs

Home>Lists>FilmLists>10GreatMinimalistFilmsThatAreWorthYourTime

10GreatMinimalistFilmsThatAreWorthYourTime30April2015|Features,FilmLists|byHassanHusseini

5.Alice(JanSvankmajer,1988)

EventheliterarylaymanisfamiliarwithLewisCarrollsAlicesAdventuresinWonderland.Eventhosewhohavenotreaditarefamiliarofthenovelsubiquitousuniverse,ofitspsychedelic,transformativeandabsurdworldofwhiterabbitswithpocketwatchesandhookahsmokingcaterpillars.

JanSvankmajerwallowsintheabsurd.Hisfilmsarepeculiarlittlethingsthatheconjuresupthroughtheotherwordlyjerkymovementofstopmotion.Svankmajerprobablyrecognizedthestrangeelusivenessofthenovelasitscruxsohenarrowedhisfilmdowntoasurrealcollectionoftextures,weirdmovementandhypersounds.TheuniverseofthenovelistranslatedintoanoneiricstreamofconsciousnesstalethattakesAlicesmostinterestingelement,thatofspatialandtemporaldisorientation,andamplifiesit.

3/5/2015 10GreatMinimalistFilmsThatAreWorthYourTimeTasteofCinema

http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/10greatminimalistfilms/2/ 2/12

Thefilmsubstitutesmostofthedialogueinthenovelwithasurrealmagnificationofsounds,offootsteps,tickingclocks,creakingandcracklingofwoodandrustymetalandimagesofgrotesquetransformation.WeseeAliceinherroom,clutteredwithobjectslikerottenapples,butterfliesinglasscasing,fossilsandgeishafaceddolls.Wehearanantiqueclockticking.

ThenweseeAlicethrowingstonesintoacupoftea.Whenshestaresatawhitebulbaboveherhead,wehearelectricalnoise.Herattentionisdrawnnexttoamodelrabbitescapingitsglassyconfinement.Itdressesinoldfashionedclothesandbreakstheglasswithapairoflongscissors.Thescenesareenhancedbysoundsthatseemanexaggerationoftheactualsounds,thatofcreakingwoodandclickingoftherabbitsfeetasitwalksoutofitsglassycell.

Thefilmiscleveratrevealingtimeandspaceasillusoryandeverchanging.Onesecond,Aliceisinherroom,thenextsheistransportedtoasandywasteland.AdrawerappearsintowhichAliceisswallowed.Again,shefindsherselfinadifferentplace,thatofamoldycavernalludingtothatofCarrollsrabbithole.Theinterchangesarecleverlyinterwoven,robbingspaceofanysolidity.

Theminimaltreatmentofthenovelbyfocusingonaspecificmood,enhancedbyaworldofrustynails,sawdustlunches,andtearsthatcandrownaroomprioritizesemotionoverthecerebral.Aliceattimeslookslikeshehasbeenswallowedbyacarpentryworkshopthathasgonehaywire.Svankmajerdepartsevenfurtherfromthenovelbynotgivingtheaudienceanykeytodecipherthischildnightmare.Hismainconcernseemstosimplydragusoffintothismenacinglabyrinthofmagnifiedtextureandsound.

4.ThePassionofJoanofArc(CarlTheodorDreyer,1928)

CarlTheodorDreyersvisualtranslationoftheaccountofJoanofArcstrialandexecutionisanutterlyminimalone.Dreyerhereminimizesthehistoricalinhisretellingandstressesoncapturingthegutchurningsufferingofhisunfortunatemaidpossessingheavenlyvisions.

Thestorygoes:AcountrymaidleadstheFrenchtroopsagainsttheBritishoccupationandiseventuallycaptured.Sheisbroughtbeforejudgesofachurchcourtandaccusedofheresyforrevealingthatherbeliefshadbeenthecauseofcelestialvisions.Shewouldbetorturedandlatercrucifiedatthestake.

Dreyersfilmdispenseswithspatialcontinuityorcostumedramaextravaganzainfavourofasuccessionofcloseups.ThestrikingelementisMariaFalconetti(thoughheronlyfilm)asJeanneDarc,whoembodiesthefearandsufferingweighingdownonthesacrificialmaidassheisaccusedandhumiliatedbeforeaseaofangryfaces.

Dreyeraimshiscameraconstantlyatfaces,juxtaposingJoanofArcssad,teardrenchedwitheringfacewiththat

3/5/2015 10GreatMinimalistFilmsThatAreWorthYourTimeTasteofCinema

http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/10greatminimalistfilms/2/ 3/12

ofthestubbornandunsympatheticfacesofheraccusers.ThoughDreyer,inoppositiontoBressonsrigorousdiscipline,makesuseofFalconettistheatricalbackgroundandemotionaldisplays.Butherestrictsthefilmtocloseupsandmediumshotsofthefaces,andsobringsusintocontactwiththefundamentalelementofthishistoricalaccount:despair.

3.Suspiria(DarioArgento,1977)

ThemuchimitatedbutneverrivaledDarioArgentotakesinfluencefromthemacabretalesofEdgarAllenPoeandconstructscolourfulandrichnightmares.GenerichorrormayhaveabadrepovertheyearsforitsoverinvolvementinsensationandindulgingthebodyinquickjerkyreactionsandthoughArgentodabblesincheapscareseverynowandthen,hisfilmsrelateverymuchtoagenuinefeelingofdread.

Suspiriausesaversionofasimpleandoutdatednarrative.AnAmericangirlarrivesataballetacademyinMunichthatturnsouttobeafrontforawitchcovenwhosadisticallymurderstheyoungaspiringballetstudents.Notmuchelsehappensintermsofplot.AswithGlazerinUnderTheSkin,Argentosinterestliesinblazingavisualtrailofterrorandfearinsteadofrelyingonplotparticulars.Nothingdoesorissupposedtomakesenseinthefilm.

Argentotakestimetocomposehisshotsanddecoratehisballetschool.TheschoolisenameledinredvelvetandhauntedbyrichGothicinteriors.Hisgeometriccompositionsindulgeintheschoolscomplexarchitectureandhelightssceneswithoverwhelmingreds,greensandblues.Thekillingsaredisturbinglygruesomenotbecauseoftheirviolentnaturebutbecausetheyareinstantlyattractivetotheeye.

Thefirstkillinginthefilmisalabyrinthoftheunnatural.Itendswithagirlbeingstabbedandhungbytheneckinaspaciousroom,breakingtheceilingglass,suspendedlikeaniconsurroundedbycomplimentingarchitecturalshapes.Spilledbloodtakesonavelvetyrougecolour.Thecameraslowlytrailsdownfromthegirlssuspendedbloodiedfeettoherfriendlyingonthefloor,shardsofglassinherbodyandface.Thepoolsofblood,colouredglassshardsandcheckerboardfloorallformonebiggorymural.

Argentoisapainterpaintingwithfatbloodystrokes,nonchalantaboutthepaintingscontent,rathertheatmosphereofitandhowitinstantlycreepsintotheunconscious.HeisreminiscentofBoschandhiscolourfullandscapesofthegrotesque.ThisiswhatgivesArgentotheedgeovermanyotherhorrorfilmmakerslookingtoinspirephysiologicalreactions.

2.12AngryMen(SidneyLumet,1957)

3/5/2015 10GreatMinimalistFilmsThatAreWorthYourTimeTasteofCinema

http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/10greatminimalistfilms/2/ 4/12

Maybethemostdramaticandprolixfilmonthislist,12AngryMenisstilldaringinitsspatialcondensation.Thefilm,exceptfortheopeningandepilogue,takesplaceinajuryroomandoccasionallyinthenextdoorbathroom.12menwithutterlydifferentqualitiesargueovertheinnocenceofaboywhoisconvictedofstabbinghisfather.

Thecluespointtowardstheboysguilt,somostofthemenpronouncehimguilty.One,playedbythelankybuttenaciousHenryFonda,hasadifferentpointofview.Hedoesntsaytheboyisinnocentbutthathecouldbe.Theyarguefortheremainderofthefilm,somemoreaggressivelythanothers.Theykeepmullinganddiggingthroughcluesuntileventually,allmembersdecideontheboysinnocence.Butthetruthofthecrimeisneverrevealed.

Ourexperienceiscenteredontheconfrontationbetweenthemen.ThecrimeiswhatHitchcockcalledaMcGuffin,adevicethatactsasatriggerfortheplotbutinitselfisunimportantandinterchangeable.Thoughhere,theMcGuffinservesnoplot.Moreimportantly,thecrimerevealsmoreandmoreaboutthe12personalities,theirbehaviorisobservedandtheirweaknessesgraduallypronouncedwhenreactingtodifferentaspectsofthecase.

Thefilmsubstitutesspatialvarietywithamyriadofpersonalities.Acalmlycalculatingstockbrocker.Awisecrackingsalesman.Astubbornseniorcitizen.Avacantadvertisingmanwho,maybethinkingheisinabusinessmeeting,swayingbackandforthinhisdecisiondependingonwhatthemajorityagreewith.Andotherswiththeirownquirksandshortcomingsthatimbuethefilmwithvivacity.

Theroomgraduallyintensifiesastheargumentsbecomemoreheatedandthehostilityunfurls.Lumetheightensthebadbloodamongthemenbygraduallychangingthefocallengthofhiscameralensessothattheroomwouldlooksmallerandsmaller,asifclosinginonthecharacters.Limitingafilmandrestrictingitsspatialbarriershasalwaysbeenagreatvisualtoolforexploringamindindoubt,disorientationorinescapability.

RomanPolanskididthesameinRepulsion,manaclingCaroltoherflattodrawherdelusionsofrapeaswellasTheTenanttoshowafracturedmind.SodidAlfredHitchcockwithhisfilmRope,wherehischaractersarecaughtatamoralimpasseaftermurderingtheircolleague.Itallunfoldsinasinglesetting.ThroughLumetscamera,wemoderatelycometoknowhis12characters,theirbehavior,andpeculiarhabits.

1.Duel(StevenSpielberg,1971)

3/5/2015 10GreatMinimalistFilmsThatAreWorthYourTimeTasteofCinema

http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/10greatminimalistfilms/2/ 5/12

Spielbergsfirstfeaturefilmsdealsintimatelywithparanoiathroughanelementaryanduncompromisedstoryline.Atravelingsalesmanisbeingchaseddownthehighwaybyasadisticfueltankerwhowantstoplaymindgames.Thefilminhabitstheunfortunatemansmindsetonhispsychologicaljourneytofindreasonforthetruckdriverserraticassaults.

ForafilmbythemanwhodirectedSavingPrivateRyanandAI,Spielbergseemsathismostpotentinthissimplequicknarrativeofthoroughfaremolestation.Maybehavingmoremoneyandmoremeanscanmakeafilmmakerforgetabouttheintricaciesofthemodest.Onlyverylittleinformationisgivenoftheprotagonistandneartononeisgivenofhisassailant.Thefilmthenplacesusinapositionofinstabilitylikethatoftheparanoidtruckdriversvictim.

Onceagain,theprotagonististaughtnomoralizinglessonsabouthisorthelifeofothers.Ourinitialthoughtsofwhatonemightcallaplotleadustobelievethatonceweknowwhothissadistonthestreetis,thenwegetaclearerpictureoftheunfortunateprotagonisthimself.Thatnotioniscrushedundertwotonsofsteel,aswegetnoanswerstothewhyoreventhewho.Duelisnotaboutthewhosorwhys.Itisaboutrawexperience.

Thesalesmanlaterstopsnexttoastrandedandoverheatedbusfullofchildren.Heactsunhingedwhenthetruckisspottedagain.Herushesawayinhiscarandturnsaroundtospotthefueltankerstopbehindthebus.Thetruckdriverhelpspushthebusbackontrack.Thesalesmangrowsmoreconfusedwiththeerraticallymoralperformanceofhisassailant.Thefilmtellsusitisstrictlyaboutparanoiaandhowwetendtoexaggerateourownfearsasmuchastheimaginationallows.

AuthorBio:HassanHusseiniisafilmfanaticfromLebanonandcurrentlyresidesinNewcastleuponTyne,England.HehasaBAinGraphicDesignandhasjustfinishedaBAinFilmStudiesfromNorthumbriaUniversity.HisresearchincludesEuropeanCinema,SexandTransgressioninthefilmsofPierPaoloPasolini,SerialKillersinfilm,andtherepresentationofdeathincinemaandtelevision.

shopnow

thethinnest,lightestwalletever

minWalletminimalistwallet

3/5/2015 10GreatMinimalistFilmsThatAreWorthYourTimeTasteofCinema

http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/10greatminimalistfilms/2/ 6/12

1638SHARES

WhatYouShouldKnowAboutTheVision

BeforeSeeing'Ultron'

SurpriseReverseFlashTwistNoOne

SeesComing

5MoviesYouShouldNeverSeeWithYour

Parents

6MostMessedUpThingsIn'StarWars'NoOneEverTalks

About

MarvelExecsFindPlotOf'Guardians'Sequel

TooRisky

12FamousActorsWhoWereCompletelyCut

FromMovies

13FactsYouDidn'tKnowAboutUltron

TheHorrifyingHiddenSubplotYouMissedin

'StarWars'

Pages:12

OtherBrilliantMoviePostsOnTheWeb

5Comments TasteofCinema Login1

Share SortbyBest

Jointhediscussion

Reply

CharlesBarnes 2daysagoWait,Suspiriaisaminimalistfilm?ThesameSuspiriawiththeboomingGoblinsoundtrack,bucketsofblood,andexaggeratedcolours,revellingintherampant,excessivemurderscenesofyoungwomen(andablindman)?

Ohdear.

Yourpieceonitonlyservestofurthertheideathatitisratherfarfromaminimalistfilms.Onthecontrary,Argento'sschtickwasbeingasselfindulgent,stylishandsadisticallybombasticashepossiblycould(anditwasglorious!).

2

GaryPorter 2daysago

Recommend

Share

Facebook Twitter Subscribe

3/5/2015 10GreatMinimalistFilmsThatAreWorthYourTimeTasteofCinema

http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/10greatminimalistfilms/2/ 7/12

10GreatHorrorMoviesUnfairlyRatedLowerthan7.0onIMDB10comments9daysago

AvatarBrandonThompsonBabadookisonly6.9?

The40BestEuropeanAnimatedFeatureFilmsofAllTime11comments13daysago

AvatarJuanMartinezvalswithbashir?,no?,realy?

12GreatCharacterEntrancesandWhatTheyCanTeachYou6comments2daysago

AvatarGordonKnoxWellinthatcase,pleasecanIhavesomeofwhateveryouandthewriterare

25EssentialDVD/BlurayReleasesfromTheCriterionCollection9comments6daysago

AvatarStevenFloresIdon'tseeanyBressononthatlisteitherandareyousayinghedoesn'tmake

ALSOONTASTEOFCINEMA

Reply

GaryPorter 2daysagoThePerfectHuman.Afriendputonthisb&wDanishfilm,andmyimmediatereactionwas,ffs,getthatb*llocksoff.Within5minutesIwasutterlyenthralledandattheendaskedifhecouldrepeatit.Wonderousandunexpectedevent.

Reply

YigruZeltil 2daysagoSuchavaguedefinitionof"minimalism"...

Where'sOssos?OrSyndromesandaCentury?Or4Months,3Weeksand2Days?OrUskiRoti?

Reply

DermotClarke 2daysagoSo...thisisalistoffilmsyoujustsortoflikeingeneral?Oralistoffilmsyou'veactuallysetagainstsomecriteria?

Reply

CaelusChampion 2daysagoLMAOatcomparingSexyBeasttoUTS.SexyBeastistenmilliontimesthepictureUTSis.Boring,pretentious,shallowBSmasqueradingasart.NOTFOOLEDJAY,NOTFOOLEDATALL

WHAT'STHIS?

Subscribe AddDisqustoyoursited Privacy

Share

Share

Share

Share

Sidebar

Advertisement

3/5/2015 10GreatMinimalistFilmsThatAreWorthYourTimeTasteofCinema

http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/10greatminimalistfilms/2/ 8/12

SubscriptionOptions:

The20BestMoviesof2014

The18BestPhilosophicalMoviesofAllTime

3/5/2015 10GreatMinimalistFilmsThatAreWorthYourTimeTasteofCinema

http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/10greatminimalistfilms/2/ 9/12

The25MostVisuallyStunningFilmsofThePast5Years

The25BestFilmsAboutCharactersDescentIntoMadness

20GreatSoulCrushingFilmsThatAreWorthYourTime

The30BestSurrealistFilmsNotDirectedbyLuisBunuel

20GreatDystopianFilmsThatAreWorthYourTime

18ImportantFilmMovementsEveryMovieBuffShouldKnow

3/5/2015 10GreatMinimalistFilmsThatAreWorthYourTimeTasteofCinema

http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/10greatminimalistfilms/2/ 10/12

The25BestScifiMoviesofThe21stCentury

25GreatPsychedelicMoviesThatAreWorthYourTime

The30BestHorrorFilmsOfThe21stCentury

25GreatPsychologicalThrillersThatAreWorthYourTime

The30GreatestWesternsInCinemaHistory

The25BestMoviesAboutYouthandSexuality

3/5/2015 10GreatMinimalistFilmsThatAreWorthYourTimeTasteofCinema

http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/10greatminimalistfilms/2/ 11/12

The20WeirdestMoviesOfThe21stCentury

The15MostOverlookedFilmsofTheLast5Years

17DisturbingHorrorMoviesYouWillNeverWatchAgain

15ComplexMoviesFromThisCenturyThatWereTooSmartForMainstreamAudiences

The23BestIndependentMoviesof2014

3/5/2015 10GreatMinimalistFilmsThatAreWorthYourTimeTasteofCinema

http://www.tasteofcinema.com/2015/10greatminimalistfilms/2/ 12/12

DigmorelistsonTASTEOFCINEMA

WriteForUs

Copyright2015.TasteOfCinemaMovieReviewsandClassicMovieLists.Allrightsreserved.