An excellent exercise in atmosphere
Malle explains in the interview excerpt included on the Criterion release that BLACK MOON is not about plot. It is about capturing moods and tones through various cinematic devices. It is about the unusual characters and situations. They provide the anchors for the film. Malle shoots his film as though it were a dream. Everything is very ambiguous and strange. There's not much I can say about this film that will do it justice, you just have to see it. I didn't know quite what to make of it after my first viewing, I just let it sink for a few days. I'm still not sure how I feel, but I'm glad I had the experience. You just have to let it wash over you. It's very slow and there's usually not much going on in the soundtrack except for ambiance and mumbling. It feels like an early David Lynch film produced by Alejandro Jodorowsky. You will either hate it or it will intrigue you. Either way, if you're a fan of surreal cinema, this is definitely worth a watch.
The oddest movie I have ever seen...ever!
The movie is often played on a cable station usually after 9pm, and for good reason, I guess. Black Moon is a quiet movie, but its almost like watching a trainwreck. Once you start watching, you cant take your eyes off. And you dont really feel compelled to watch it again because its almost frightening. There is very little dailogue in the movie. Now, I'm not sure, but here is what I think this movie is about: Picture a post-apocolyptic, war-in-progress, war-torn country-any country will do for the purpose of decribing this movie. In your wildest imagination, picture animals that can speak, imp-like nude children running across the countryside chasing pigs, and unicorns actually do exist. All of the scenes have something about them that are flip-flop and the writer's attempt to depict their idea of of what the "end of the world" would be like. You know, when all of the "good" forces are removed from the earth and all of the "bad" forces are completely in contol of everything. For...
'Certainly Not A Full Moon...
[BLACK MOON - 1975 - Directed by Louis Malle - Widescreen] Black Moon is a non-narrative Freudian tale of adolescent sexuality (?) apparently set in a postapocalyptic world of men against women, shifting identities and talking animals that make more sense than their human counterparts. It is Malle's most experimental film and an irritating cinematic daydream like no other. Is this a good thing? I don't believe so. He's treading on Luis Bunuel's turf, but clearly is in over his head. Even his interview in the bonus features shows how uncomfortable he is discussing the film, refusing to elucidate on elements that border on incomprehensible within the film, never making eye contact with the camera, his posture and body language as defensive as someone in a police video interrogation we are soon to find guilty of a crime.
As someone who has seen almost every Malle film and is a professed fan, I was excited about seeing this one, but midstream, I realized I was in for a huge...
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