I went and saw Wolke Neun at which is probably the best art house movie venue in the world, The Cinematheque. Wolke Neun translates from German to English as, Cloud Nine. And this film was brilliant. It was hugely complex and emotional, yet at the same time, the theme was basic and simple, it was about love. It was a raw, voyeuristic approach into the life of a 60 year-old woman who finds herself in love with a man outside of her 30 year marriage. The ambiguity that casts its dark shadow over this film is incredibly powerful. I didn’t want to empathize, or sympathize with a woman that could do such a thing to her marriage, but I did. And like Inge say’s, “it just happened. I didn’t want this to happen. I didn’t look for this to happen. It just happened.”
Here’s a quote from the director, Andreas Dresen’s overview of why he chose to write and direct Wolke Neun:
“It bored me that society is getting older, but there are no related images about love and sex. I thought it was important to show this part of life in a dignified older body - a comforting message that people do not love regardless of age. Although we live in a world where all have an enormous Kontrollsucht (control) but love is not controllable - the heart cannot be controlled from the head. “
The clip below is in German. The film last night was of course subtitled. Here’s the dialogue:
Charles: Do you know how 80-year olds screw?
Inge: No, how?
Charles: The woman stands on her head and the man stands over her and slides it in.
Inge: Laughter.
Charles: Laughter.
Audience: Laughter.
Wolke Nuen
Neve Black
Oh, Neve, Natalie was just talking about this! It seems fascinating. I’m glad you saw it and enjoyed it. I bet I’ve missed my shot at seeing it here, but I’ll try to rent it!
I just finished The Age of Innocence (Edith Wharton) and have been pondering adultery as a subject lately. There’s been vague creation of a blog entry in me, but I’m not sure if it will materialize…. Anyway, thanks for this post.
Hi Laura,
Yes, I think it played just twice this weekend. Check Netflix. I often find some little film gem that I missed by searching there. Or, maybe the library could order a copy for you and that’s FREE. This film’s message is poignant and yes, fascinating to say the least. I realy enjoyed it very much.
Also, mark your calendar to see Bliss, which is another gripping and emotional journey set in Turkey and Greece. The film is one I did see a couple years ago at the Film Festival. I left the theater along with about 50 other women with tear streaked cheeks of…well, bliss. It’s wonderful. It plays at the Cinematheque Thursday, December 10 at 8:20 and then again on Friday, December 11 at 7:30. I’ll try and organize a group viewing and include you in on the e-mail.
Ciao for now, chica.
Hey Em!
I remember reading Wharton’s Age of Innocence a very long time ago. I was in high school. Did you like it? I remember the story was about the higher class system’s social norms and the irony of those standards. Wharton is brilliant, without question. I love how a film or a book can evoke such thoughful provocation. I do think you should post about this, Em. I’d love to hear your thoughts and jump into the discussion.
Different from Wharton’s high society class system, this film was about regular, middle class people, which I could relate to. This is probably because of my middle to lower middle class family history and most of my friends around me as well. I suppose we attract what and who we are, right?
Thanks for sharing and you know I’ll be looking for that post on this subject.
“Did you like it?”
It may be one of the most beautiful products of human creation to which I feel I have been exposed thus far in this lifetime. I miss it. I have been missing it since I finished it, and even as I was reading it I felt a poignant yearning that at some point I would likely finish it, and its immediacy and involvement would be gone from my experience.
Thank you for the encouragement.
I appreciate that….
Xoxo
Hi Emerald,
So, I think what you’re telling me is yeah, you really liked the book! That’s fantastic! I have a few books in my life that are just a finger tip away also. Dogged-eared pages and annotated with my thoughts to the right of the author’s words. There are some passages within books that I think of often too, because the words were so meaningful, are so meaningful that I’ll never forget them. I’m not sure if there’s anything else in the world that moves our souls quite like a wonderous piece of art. It’s a gift really. A true gift from the universe.
Now you know you’ll have to write short review on the book and expand upon your thoughts - it moved you in way that must be shared.
Thank you for sharing. Maybe I’ll rent this from the library and re-read.
“I’m not sure if there’s anything else in the world that moves our souls quite like a wonderous piece of art. It’s a gift really.”
I hear you.
“Now you know you’ll have to write short review on the book and expand upon your thoughts - it moved you in way that must be shared.”
Heh, I’ve somewhere been feeling that too, while simultaneously feeling like I don’t even know what to say. Thank you again though!
We shall see.
Em,
No pressure, of course. Really. I swear.