Palimpsest
The elliptical nature of this film is particularly appropriate and works well. There are scenes of narrative and discovery but also scenes and fragments returned to and loops of photos and letters which are trying to find a place in the story. There are also shots of the changing face of a city: buildings and churches demolished by Stalin, now rebuilt, or Soviet buildings demolished for holes in the ground. I couldn’t help hoping to find out what was ground-breaking about Shept’s philosophy, how this specifically got him in trouble and what his response was but this would probably work against the spirit of the film.
Speaking of film length, this one is 70 minutes. I love brevity!
Screening again on Monday, Oct 11th 6:45pm at Pacific Cinematheque.