Albeit the actual satisfaction one sees and feels in the cinematographic parts of the film, its special effects and the excellent cast, there are several problems that stop me from grading this movie as high a standing as the plot possibly deserves.
The movie is an attempt to demonstrate a country in crisis, with `ancient' ethical patterns pulverized, innovating concepts preceding their time and credited with gloomy attitude as well as misunderstanding from the society.
A non-conventional friendship of two teenage girls, observation from different aspects on the same theme, different aspects of view against extant axioms of ethics. In fact--a whole world against two teenage girls. And they love it. The girls flee to their own world ("The Fourth World"), which is supported by several excellent effects.
However, the acting itself reminds somewhat a parody on a dramatic film, especially the beginning of it. All the dialogue scenes between the two girls seem to be unrealistic, and the (too) sullen world of one (Pauline--Melanie Lynskey) versus the (too) cheerful reality of the other (Juliet--Kate Winslet). Too many emotions involved in the dialogues, which transform them to a somewhat unreliable form of acting.
We are presented two polarized worlds, but they are too polar. Everything is too flamboyant, and therefore: surreal. Perhaps the idea of such acting deserves attention, but in my opinion, in this film, it failed.
The film is very unusual for the spectator, and uses patterns that are scarce in modern movies. Some people I have discussed the movie with argued that the dialogues in the movie are literally swan of an insane person which have been written down, or an attempt to show a parody on a relationship drama. I disagree with such a decisive overreaction, but it's partially correct. Although the film is based on a true story, it is very difficult to believe in view of the sometimes wretched acting. From the aspect of realism, it's a failure, and therefore the titles in the beginning and the end which give the film a grip of reality are not felicitous.
There is no side that can be interpreted in the film, neither the girls (wicked, warped, going against the entire world, against ethical patterns that are not out-of-date even today...), nor the surrounding world (scorn of homosexuality, strict discipline, parent--child relationship...). It is somewhat difficult to understand the characters' actions, because the acting does not appoint them `evaluations'--not that it is bad, but the characters are not properly `explained' to the spectator. That definitely ill-treats the film. Aside from that, the philosophical ideas behind "The Fourth World" in the movie sometimes don't correlate with the actions and dialogues of the characters--and that is a problem of the plot, without a doubt.
Bottom line: we have created ourselves a world, and no obstacle will stop us! (However, eventually there is one b i g obstacle--the law.)
The movie is an attempt to demonstrate a country in crisis, with `ancient' ethical patterns pulverized, innovating concepts preceding their time and credited with gloomy attitude as well as misunderstanding from the society.
A non-conventional friendship of two teenage girls, observation from different aspects on the same theme, different aspects of view against extant axioms of ethics. In fact--a whole world against two teenage girls. And they love it. The girls flee to their own world ("The Fourth World"), which is supported by several excellent effects.
However, the acting itself reminds somewhat a parody on a dramatic film, especially the beginning of it. All the dialogue scenes between the two girls seem to be unrealistic, and the (too) sullen world of one (Pauline--Melanie Lynskey) versus the (too) cheerful reality of the other (Juliet--Kate Winslet). Too many emotions involved in the dialogues, which transform them to a somewhat unreliable form of acting.
We are presented two polarized worlds, but they are too polar. Everything is too flamboyant, and therefore: surreal. Perhaps the idea of such acting deserves attention, but in my opinion, in this film, it failed.
The film is very unusual for the spectator, and uses patterns that are scarce in modern movies. Some people I have discussed the movie with argued that the dialogues in the movie are literally swan of an insane person which have been written down, or an attempt to show a parody on a relationship drama. I disagree with such a decisive overreaction, but it's partially correct. Although the film is based on a true story, it is very difficult to believe in view of the sometimes wretched acting. From the aspect of realism, it's a failure, and therefore the titles in the beginning and the end which give the film a grip of reality are not felicitous.
There is no side that can be interpreted in the film, neither the girls (wicked, warped, going against the entire world, against ethical patterns that are not out-of-date even today...), nor the surrounding world (scorn of homosexuality, strict discipline, parent--child relationship...). It is somewhat difficult to understand the characters' actions, because the acting does not appoint them `evaluations'--not that it is bad, but the characters are not properly `explained' to the spectator. That definitely ill-treats the film. Aside from that, the philosophical ideas behind "The Fourth World" in the movie sometimes don't correlate with the actions and dialogues of the characters--and that is a problem of the plot, without a doubt.
Bottom line: we have created ourselves a world, and no obstacle will stop us! (However, eventually there is one b i g obstacle--the law.)