Make a Choice

It's been a while since I wrote my last post here. As it happens to everyone who writes a blog sooner or later, I've been recently asking to myself if there is actually somebody reading my stuff out there... Truth is I don't really care about that. I realized writing something for myself is good enough. This is a choice. I should celebrate! As I should celebrate the fact that I'm here in Los Angeles, 'cause this was another choice I made. Choices are like fuel for the machine of our life. And I would like to pay tribute for having finally and deeply understood that by writing something like this post. Having to make a choice is something that scares anybody but is truly one of the most beautiful things you could do. On the other hand delaying a choice is the worst.  A couple of years ago somebody told me about a recent movie as a really interesting one to see, both visually appealing and rich in significance; I said to myself "Of course! i'm gonna look for it when I have some spare time." This exact thing happened like three more times in the past two years, I knew there was something about this move that I would've really appreciate but I just kept on delaying it. Somehow one night during my class the professor mentioned this movie by chance referring to it as "One of the most interesting movies of the last decade". That movie was "Mr Nobody", 2009 film from belgian direction Jaco Van Dormael. Ok that was the straw that broke the camel's back. I really can't recall last time I saw the same movie twice in 36 hours period.

One of the things surprised me most is how this Sci-fi-Drama can make you think about common fundamental things that are usually taken for granted, as the importance to ponder a choice, since usually you won't be able to come back. 

NEMO AGE 9

If you mix the mashed potatoes and sauce, you can't separate them later. 

It's forever.

Talking about the narration, the entire plot is built up on a non linear construction and basically we can summarize the story as the expanded view of any possible different life protagonist Nemo could live making a choice rather that another. This complex and intricate tree alike construction starts from the first big choice little Nemo has to deal with in his early life up to following almost 12 different Nemo characters and their lives. Beautiful is, other than how different stories are woven, to recognize common situation of everyday life and being able to learn some lesson from them. Another awesom thing is Jared Leto, but I'm not going to dwell on that since I've always had a soft spot for him from the time of "Requeim For A Dream".

Visually speaking, the whole motion picture is connoted by adroitness in the frame construction, bold camera movements (really love them), accurate color selection and great set design altogether to convey the sensation of being inside the main character's mind. Since I've always loved visual style characterized by clean contrasted and bright images, shallow depth of field along with blurred backgrounds, I really appreciate this set of dream images as they carry also a strong symbolic meaning and a great emotions conveyance power.

Mr. Nobody (Jaco Van Dormael - 2009)

I don't think you need to like the genre to enjoy this movie. In any case it is worth to see. So thanks Jaco for giving us this precious pearl as I can say without a doubt this is definitely the kind of film that I wish one day I could say I shot.