Review of Applause (1929) by Pondering T — 15 Sep 2011

I know what you are thinking... Danish, hand held cameras, grainy pictures, blurry focus... oh no ANOTHER Dogma film....

While Applause looks to have all the trappings of (practically) everything else that has come out of Denmark since Lars Broke the Waves, I for one actually found that in this story it worked quite well. Sometimes I think that having that camera right up in your face is much harder as an actor for it forces one to really have to get into a character. I like the focus on the characters in this way... the fact that the outside world does not really exist for that is not the purpose of the film.

Oh don't get me wrong... you know this is Danish (or at least in THAT vain), but I found myself drawn to this film, and the lead character (paprika Steen) for the simple fact that she tried her best to do what she could with the material she had. I enjoyed the pacing of the film, the intensity of its action and the movement of the characters.

Where the story falters for me, is in its inabilty to totally follow through on the darkness you can see is growing and growing and growing throughout the film. I don't want to give anything away by saying too much, but you now what she is contemplating by the end, and the final scenes left (at least me) with the wondering both of ... will she or won't she and I hope she does/I hope she doesn'. While the final decision of the character (to do what she did and get to the place to finally got to) was good in some ways... it was also not totally great to the entire context of the story, but also it was not a total washout either for the ending is not one I would say is neither particularily happy nor healthy.

Sounds criptic perhaps, and if you saw the film and understood what I think perhaps should have happened at the end to complete the true darkness you might see me as a bad person, so I can only say, go and see the film for yourself and you be the judge. After all that is what cinema is all about and another reason why I liked this film. It is a film that can (and probably will) spark discussions as to the true nature of what this character would have done. In my books at least that is the sign of intelligent cinema... or at least cinema with more then just a fleeting thought.