Repost: Le Quattro Volte (September 1st and 2nd at the Cleveland Cinematheque)

[LE QUATTRO VOLTE screens Thursday September 1st at 7:00pm and Friday September 2nd at 9:25pm at the Cleveland Cinematheque.]

Review by Ben Lybarger

Italian director Michelangelo Frammartino succeeds in crafting a subtle masterpiece in LE QUATTRO VOLTE, a film that patiently explores existence in a remote Calabrian village, unembellished by conventions of plot, musical score, or even spoken language. Instead the camera slowly roams in long shots, both spatially and temporally, giving a detached perspective that transcends anthropogenic conceits. It is like Emerson’s “transparent eyeball” gazing impartially, free of ego, leading us to make associations that a human observer embroiled in culture and routine might normally fail to consider.

Le Quattro Volte (June 23rd, 24th and 25th at the Cleveland Cinematheque)

[LE QUATTRO VOLTE screens Thursday June 23^rd at 6:00pm, Friday June 24^th at 9:40pm and Saturday June 25^th at 7:20pm at the Cleveland Cinematheque.]

Review by Ben Lybarger

Italian director Michelangelo Frammartino succeeds in crafting a subtle masterpiece in LE QUATTRO VOLTE, a film that patiently explores existence in a remote Calabrian village, unembellished by conventions of plot, musical score, or even spoken language. Instead the camera slowly roams in long shots, both spatially and temporally, giving a detached perspective that transcends anthropogenic conceits. It is like Emerson’s “transparent eyeball” gazing impartially, free of ego, leading us to make associations that a human observer embroiled in culture and routine might normally fail to consider.