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#389

"A precursor and companion piece to The Singing Detective that is so challenging, it needs to be seen more than once by even the most perceptive of viewers."

Bizarre, surreal, but completely hypnotic comedy. Gielgud presides over all as ill writer concocting scenarios involving his family members; his running commentary is hilarious, matched by equally amusing Bogarde playing perhaps Gielgud's son, or a version of Gielgud himself. All other actors are effective, but (deliberately) limited by the devilishly clever writing; Stritch was a great sport to agree to play such a derided character. Hard to track at first; be sure to give it time to bed in.

A view into the aged, bitter mind of an author. Another fascinating experiment from Resnais that made me want to watch it again the moment it was finished. John Gielgud never disappoints.

Since all the dialogue springs from the mind of an author, I can see why everyone talks in the same over-literate fashion. But it just sounds pompous as hell, and I groaned through a lot of it. Everything is too wry and self-satisfied, especially the narration. Moments where the characters slip into vulgarities sound hollow and forced. But things turn around in the end, which puts all the previous events in a different light. An original and provocative work, but one that is difficult to enjoy.

# 347

I don't think this was entirely successful, unfolding as a slow burning puzzle where you're missing one key piece necessary to make it all make some sort of sense. Nonetheless, I found it extremely enjoyable in a very bizarre way, and the ending gives it all a context that makes me think a second viewing would be rather rewarding.

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