Review of Black Orpheus (1959) by Wezul S — 04 Jan 2014

Perhaps more than any other motion picture I've yet encountered, Black Orpheus links the world of material phenomena to myth. What once was is again and again and again and again. And one of those constants is love.

And another of those constants is death. This is one of those few films that operates like a great metaphysical text. Of course you know the story, but what else can one do but watch it play out? The ending reminds me of the ending to The Seventh Seal.

I think the idea the filmmakers are attempting to communicate is essentially the same in each case. The music continues, the personal experience continues, and the sun continues to rise and fall regardless of who we identify as and who we may have identified as before.

I really dug this one, IOW. Considered a classic with very good reason.