f-candice Review of Asudem

Asudem (2007)

another cult masterpiece from a cult hero out of this world

[10/10 · 27 March 2008]

Asudem is most desirably weird. it is not scary but it keeps you on the edge of your seat for 90 minutes. the story is again absolutely original. you are watching a woman in the woods, during a war we would never see. she and her dog live in solitude, are scared, and confused and dazed from the start of the story. we hear the horrific sounds of war almost throughout the picture.the sound is done greatly by Tom Dokoupil. this surreal and haunting film has been shot as if somewhere on Earth and again like all films by Shokof where one would never know where we are. Everything is extraordinary and yet simply possible . the lighting system in the film is almost a revolution all by itself. one source of a light has been used throughout the film(as he said in the press conference after the film,s screening in Babylon Cinema in Berlin). this only light source throughout the film has been given into the hands of the great actress Yangzom Brauen who masterfully follows incredible guidance of this master Director to light the scenes resembling paintings of Rembrandt on many ocassions. The scenes are magnificent in black and white and using shadows add another great concept to this fantastic picture which reminds one of great old classic masterpieces with the difference that modernity of the concept is stunning in addition to what we have always seen many years ago. the woman,s situation becomes more and more terrible as the level of the evils appearing to haunt her life grow gradually. another most interesting element of all Shokof films are his sense of unique humor that i have never seen anywhere else.we get to even see the vampire showing up in a most unexpected scene, as the vampire oddly pumps life into her almost lifeless body after she has just attempted suicide. weird, poetic, and really ahead of the standards of the Industry and or even Independent films today. the miserable appearances continue until the Satan himself finally shows up . she is creative again to feed Satan hallucinating mushrooms in the hope that Satan would have heavenly dreams and die in fear of the heavens. one should have imaginations of fierce dimensions to start making such movies. Asudem has again my 10 for i can not compare Shokof,s films to anyone and or any other movies to give his films a 0 and or a 100? i only know he makes films uniquely Shokofian style.He has obviously influenced many Directors the world around with these amazing thoughtful unique, and most original pictures.