By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Béla Tarr
Starring: Erika Bók | Gyula Pauer | István Lénárt | Miroslav Krobot | Tilda Swinton | Volker Spengler
Country: france, germany, hungary, united_kingdom
Year: 2007
Running time: 132
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0415127/
Bruce says: “THE MAN FROM LONDON, Béla Tarr’s black and white homage to French film noir, opens with a seemingly never-ending tracking shot that takes your breath away. The camera moves from a reflection of a rope and boat in the water then creeps ever so slowly up the ladder of a railroad switchman’s tower which overlooks the dock and jetty. Once the camera has reached the top of the tower two men on the boat’s bow come into view. They are either arguing or making a plan. One leaves and goes down the gangplank following passengers who are getting their passports stamped and board the train adjacent to the boat. The man does not board the train but walks along the tracks, under the tower and onto the starboard quay. The tide is coming in and the water laps over the jetty making pools amid the cobblestones. As he lingers about the quay, the man on the boat tosses him a briefcase; it lands in one of the pools. Then the man on the boat disembarks and follows the first man. They argue and the man who has picked up the briefcase falls into the water briefcase in hand. The other man runs away.
“Maloin, the switchman (Miroslav Krobot) follows the entire encounter from his lofty perch. When the quay is once again quiet, he climbs down the tower ladder and with a long hook fishes the briefcase out of the water. He takes it back up to the tower and opens it. The briefcase is filled with money, more than the switchman will probably ever make for the rest of his life. He dries the bills on his pot belly stove and heads for home. First, however, he stops at the bar in the hotel alongside the quay and has a beer and plays chess with the bartender (Gyula Pauer). En route he passes the butcher shop where his daughter Henrietta (Erika Bók,) works; she is mopping the floors ridding them of entrails.
“Maloin’s wife (Tilda Swinton) complains of money problems and boredom. She is anxious for Henrietta to move to a better job. The following day an inspector (István Lénárt) arrives at the hotel to find out what has happened. He doesn’t mention murder but does indicate there has been a robbery. Maloin goes to the butcher shop and tells the butcher’s wife that Henrietta is no longer working there. A fight ensues with Henrietta being pulled in all directions. Shortly thereafter, Maloin takes Henrietta to a furrier to by her a stone martin scarf. The two furriers are veritable magpies as they hone in on the sale.
“With the exception of the scenes at the furrier’s and the butcher’s, every other scene is a long take -always moving and changing, going somewhere. The film undergoes shifts in focus but never in tone. Several scenes in the bar move ever so slowly as meals are eaten and conversations are overheard. It is evident that the inspector, who predicts that the case will be settled in a ‘nice, friendly way,’ will get to the bottom of the situation. Maloin fears his windfall will be short-lived.
“Tarr is noted for working with a stable of actors and a faithful film crew. Tilda Swinton is a curious exception. The only flaw in an otherwise perfect cinematic experience is the dubbing of Tilda Swinton’s dialogue. I would much rather hear her speak in phonetic Hungarian than watch her speak out of sync. Volker Spengler, a veteran of at least ten Fassbinder films, does an hysterically funny turn as one of the furriers.
“Tarr spent a year of his life touring all the harbors of Europe to find the perfect location for this film based on a Georges Simenon novel. THE MAN FROM LONDON was filmed in Bastia, the second largest town in Corsica, located on the northeastern coast of the island. The town looks very French and, in spite of an imposing cathedral on the cliff overlooking the harbor, seems smaller than a town of 50,000. A more atmospheric location is unimaginable. 4.5 cats
“THE MAN FROM LONDON screened in the Masters program at the 2007 Toronto Film Festival.”
Thom says: “I saw this film in Toronto, with Bruce as a matter of fact. While I thought the film was lovingly filmed, especially the beginning, unforgettable, tracking shot, and Tilda Swinton was magical in her short part, generally I found the film leaden and can only give it 2.5 cats. Nonetheless, I find Bruce’s review to be fascinating.”