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Come and See (1985) — Dir. Elem Klimov
Every essay before this one has been about what a film leaves behind. A cello. A phone call. A swing in the snow. A key you kept. A grammar you corrected. A door you didn’t open. A field you’ve never walked through. A glass partition. A warehouse you built around yourself. This essay is about…
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Synecdoche, New York (2008) — Dir. Charlie Kaufman
The film “Synecdoche, New York” explores the paralysis of life, illustrating how Caden Cotard, a theater director, immerses himself in a never-ending project, mirroring our own tendencies to avoid living in the moment. It highlights the dangers of over-preparation, revealing life’s true essence lies in the present, not future plans.
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A Separation (2011) — Dir. Asghar Farhadi
A Separation explores the complexity of moral conflict within a family, centered on a married couple’s opposing desires. While both Nader and Simin seem right, their respective choices lead to escalating consequences, impacting their daughter Termeh. The film illustrates that being correct doesn’t necessarily equate to resolution, leaving deep emotional and ethical dilemmas unresolved.
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The Mirror (1975) — Dir. Andrei Tarkovsky
The film “The Mirror” evokes a profound sense of longing for places and memories that are not your own. It presents a mosaic of fragments rather than a linear narrative, immersing viewers in textures of memory, emotion, and nostalgia. The film emphasizes that nostalgia signifies meaningful experiences, asserting that memories are constructions influenced by longing.
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Stalker (1979) — Dir. Andrei Tarkovsky
There is a film that will make you afraid of your own desire. Not the desire itself. Not the thing you want, or think you want, or have been telling people you want at dinner parties and in annual reviews and in the shower at 2 a.m. when you rehearse the life you’re supposedly building.…