Movies at Home: The Truth, Paris Texas and Youth

 

Well her daughter didn't think it was, The Truth that is. Legendary actress Fabienne played by the imperious Catherine Deneuve has published her memoirs. But her daughter, screenwriter Lumir played by Juliette Binoche, has taken exception and maybe in retaliation is making Memories of my Mother, a scfi drama. So this is all set up for some wonderful sparring between two actresses at the top of their game. Add in Ethan Hawke as Lumir's husband and a failing actor and there is lots to enjoy. Director Hirokazu Kure-eda in his first non Japanese feature has made the most of the film's settings in a luxury Villa and the scenes in Paris. After all their arguments, the two stars agree that "we get each other". Whether that is for better or worse, we are left to ponder. I have added the director's 2018 Palme d'Or winner Shoplifters to my to see list.

Another top director, Wim Wenders won the 1984  Palme d'Or at Cannes for Paris, Texas. In a desert in West Texas strides Travis Henderson (Harry Dean Stanton) looking like some kind of drifter. We watch the landscape, a silent man and the guitar of Ry Cooder. Just a haunting theme. A card in his pocket leads to a rescue by his long lost brother Walt who takes him home. Here I was so impressed by his ever loving wife Anne played majestically by Aurore Clement. The problem is that they took in Travis' son Hunter when Travis disappeared and this new relationship with his father is an emotional part of the film. Hunter's mother Jane gave him to her brother Walt to look after as she could not cope.

But what interested me was the location of the house high up in the Verdugo Hills overlooking Burbank Airport and the city suburbs way below. Later Travis and Hunter make the effort to track down Jane (Nastassja Kinski) and for some reason, it is she who fronts most of the film's posters. The movie is of it's time that is 1984. I found the first longer half far superior to the second, almost like two different films. It's quite a sad movie, lit up by some outstanding performances and the staggering light. 

This movie was also discussed by David Thomson in his book "Have You Seen.....". He says "I used to like it very much". But he is now less impressed and finds it "uncomfortable". As I said, it is of it's time.

Saved by a wonderful performance by Michael Caine, Youth could have been so much better. Instead of concentrating on the drama, it drifts off into art house type visuals as images are patched in. In the most luxurious hotel up in the beautiful mountains of Switzerland congregate the rich and the famous. The elderly ex conductor Fred Ballinger (Caine) is here on his usual summer break. Also here are Harvey Keitel  as Mick Boyle, a film director not accepting he is way past his sell by date. They do have some interesting conversations, but not enough that we can understand their past. 

Also here is Rachel Weisz as Ballinger's daughter and Paul Dano as actor Jimmy Tree getting into a new role. So there was plenty to look forward to, but unfortunately it is only the scenery and hotel interiors that are the best things about this movie. Co-writer/director Paolo Sorrentino thinks a number of short scenes can make up for the lack of a coherent narrative. He was wrong.

A note about the hotels used for the film. The 19th century Waldhous Flims Resort Spa, a five star hotel, and a few valleys away, the Besshotel Schatzalp in Davos. It  had the perfect view. Travel expert Simon Calder (who we love) said the film "knitted together two historic hotel resorts in mountainous Eastern Switzerland", courtesy of Emily Rose Mawson in The Independant.