Separation (1968)

"She had to be the... center of things". Husband

☆☆☆☆☆ Classic 


Separation (1968) is a visually gorgeous and arresting film with one of the most complicated edits on film.


Directed by Jack Bond.


Starring Jane Arden, David de Keyser and Ann Lynn among many others.

A visually gorgeous and arresting film with one of the most complicated edits that I have ever had the pleasure of viewing. Its a difficult film to understand unless you do some research. The film is cut and presented as if you were going through the mental breakdown of the lead female character. The director chose to split time between the present and past while simultaneously switching between reality and fantasy which left me confused, baffled but in awe of how it looks visually.

The most jaw dropping scenes are the video projections across an entire wall of an apartment when Jane's character is in bed. We see her present, past, fantasy and her real life projected while she is in a scene in the foreground. Then the projected film starts to melt into burnt bubbles on screen.

I could clearly see what Bond and Arden were aiming for, but missed by not queuing in the audience with an edit that clarifies whether its a past, present, reality or fantasy sequence on the background projection. I would love a crack at a re-edit to clarify the projections to make the film more comprehensible. I think its the key to unlocking the visual power of this film.

The scene below is hard to follow unless you understand that the filmmakers are editing the scenes, so that you are seeing, hearing and feeling what Jane's characters mind is thinking about at this point of the film. She is disturbed mentally, so that her mind is racing with past and present events in her mind. The voice over is of her husband played by Dan, who happens to be her psychologist in this scene and who is standing to the right side of her. 

Film Scene

Trivia - Music is by Stanley Myers, and one song "Salad Days" is by the British rock group Procol Harum. The instrumental music is by Procol's original Hammond organist Matthew Fisher.

Film Trailer

Film Photos - Posters

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Film Transcript

Note - If you would like to view Separation (1968) to rent or buy please click on the link below the comments. It is sponsored by Google, so it is the safest and most secure way to get a copy for your film library.

2001 A Space Odyssey

"Affirmative, Dave. I read you." HAL

☆☆☆☆☆ Masterpiece 


2001 A Space Odyssey (1968) is a staggering masterpiece that enhances classical music.


Directed and co-written by Stanley Kubrick.


Starring Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester and Arthur C. Clarke among many others.


The beauty of this film is the simple message that is told via its visuals and classical music. Basically, a superior being provides the key element ( a monolith) to redirect our understanding so we can master our new environments. On earth the monolith directs our intelligence to develop tools to help us live, and grow. In outer space the monolith directs us to shed our earthly tools and bodies.

The first and last 20 plus minutes of the film have no dialogue and it is my favorite. I would have made the entire film without dialogue. Kubrick had commissioned a musical score, but used classical music to help in editing the final film. In a monumental first, the films visuals enhanced the classical music and not vice versa as is always the case in all other films. Stanley kept the classical music he had used to help him frame his visuals and actually enhanced Johann Strauss waltz “Blue Danube and Richard Strauss' Thus Spake Zarathustra in one genius stroke.

I love the scene below, because Kubrick is foreshadowing the utter uselessness of mans earthly body and tools in the new environment of outer space. Note the camera angles that Kubrick uses throughout the scene to make the audience nauseous.

Note: I've included a small section of Pavel Klushantsev film, The Road to The Stars that inspired Stanley Kubrick to make a sci-fi movie.

Film Scene

Trivia - Katharina Kubrick says that, Stanley Kubrick provided the breathing heard in the spacesuits.

Film Trailer

Clip from Pavel Klushantsev, The Road To The Stars

Film Photos - Posters

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Film Script

 

Note - If you would like to view 2001 A Space Odyssey to rent or buy please click on the link below the comments. It is sponsored by Google, so it is the safest and most secure way to get a copy for your film library.