Review of Images (1972) by Mara A — 09 Jan 2012

I listened to the very beginning twice, and still couldn't catch all of what she was saying. Then I'd turn the volume up, only to be nearly knocked out my seat by the "mood music." Ahhh, I'd missed that ever telling part of the description: "impressionistic drama written and directed by Robert Altman." Silly me, she said, not remembering even ordering this DVD...

The voice-over was very difficult to understand, though her voice is certainly mesmerizing. It turns out the story read on the voice over was a story Susannah York had written herself, and Altman worked it into the story. Is it a ghost story? A view into a troubled mind? A horrible trick being played on this poor woman, to make her think she's going insane?

It's dark and muddy, and at times confusing, then when you're not paying attention, it suddenly clicks and starts making sense. And then it doesn't. And then it does. Or does it?

Later, in watching the director's interview "Imagining Images", which I found as interesting to watch as the movie itself (but for a different reason), in the first 2 minutes Robert Altman explained what the movie was about, for which I was thankful. It was helpful because after having just watched the film...I was left not being sure. It was somewhat a relieve to find it wasn't only me, as it reportedly left its Cannes audiences mostly confused.

To explain any more of the plot, or to draw parallels between other like movies, would do a dis-service to anyone who hasn't seen the film. It's almost the kind of film that everyone who watches sees something different, and so you should. Altman further gave some very good insight into his own style of directing, explaining that he does everything he can to not give the actors any sense of what *he* envisions how they should play the character. He wants the actors to bring their own version of the character, not be a mimic of his vision.