Notes on films

REPRISE (Trier, 2006) - Style-wise, this one’s impeccable: crosscutting between past and present in a very fluid, intuitive way, knowing just how to convey someone’s feelings with a quick look or gesture. Story-wise, however, Trier seems a little too scared of cliches, and as a result doesn’t really let his story resolve in any way, since any resolution would presumably have felt pat or recycled. It’s a pity, because there’s a reason endings are popular: they are (or at least can be) satisfying, and letting a story just kind of fizzle out leaves you feeling a little strange, a little up in the air. I also was a bit bothered by the rather nasty misogyny of some of the characters, even if it’s quite clearly meant to show their immaturity. Still, it’s well-made and witty and literate - I just wish it’d been slightly less self-conscious.