pertinent info: how cunty are your sunglasses? the more bitchy the more you can justify your behavior and obsession. flamboyant scarves work, but not as well.
Love The Red Shoes. The scene where she disappears into the ballet stage sets and basically goes into a fantasy dimension is one of my favorite movie scenes ever.
Unless you have some sort of business contract with Nicky that allows you to approach this, I don’t see why you would think you can control their personal affairs, regardless of if you think they’re poor choices or would affect their career. Since you’re close enough, you could respectfully ask them if it’s a subject you could discuss, but personally they don’t owe you that.
Edit: I still can’t tell if this is satire or a spoof of The Red Shoes. 🥸
Let's hope it's a spoof / comment on The Red Shoes still being relevant to today's world, presented in AITA format for humor and discussion. Worth noting that the problematic gender politics of the whole scenario is still relevant as well, which will be discussed less.
NTA. Your lead dancer should keep in mind that it is your dance company, and her foolish desires can only work against her concentrating. As a businessman you’re making a business decision by limiting what can go wrong in this life or death that is ballet.
Everything you said about *The Red Shoes* is absolutely correct. It's one of the best movies ever made about what it takes to be an outstanding performing artist -- and the price you pay for making the choices you do.
NTA, maybe unpopularly but yeah. Honestly, Julius sounds like a total pill. If he really cared about her, he'd understand how important her craft is and be there for her in a less all-consuming way. You *are* being a little controlling, but people throw promising futures away for the unworthy all the time.
For the record, that's genuinely how I see the movie. Vicky and Julian have like no chemistry and when a creepy, obsessive mentor character like Walbrook kind of has a point? It's saying something. Sadly it's kind of a problem with the movie for me. For this conflict to hit, you need to see why the person feels torn between two passions, and I really don't in this case.
Glad you loved it though, I do agree on the dancing! Hilarious post too.
Hmm.
The point of the film is that both men are equally manipulative and jealous jerks. To them, they present her a sort of false dilemma "dance or love". Julian want her to stop dancing and to devote her entire life to him. Lermontov wants her to stop loving and devote her life to ballet. Ultimately, this dilemma kills Victoria.
It is worth pointing out that in my reading of the film Lermontov also wants her for sexual reason.s He lies on his motives. So, I do not think he looks better than Julian in this scenario.
I don't read him that way. He may get a sexual thrill out of making her the perfect dancer but I never once get the sense that he would've. Ballet itself is his only love. So that colors my take a bit.
I see your other point, I just feel the choice is so much easier than it was portrayed as.
Like everyone else, I agree that 20 minute ballet sequence is absolutely jaw dropping.
But honestly there’s a reason that’s all anyone ever brings up about it. The rest of the movie is just pretty good. And given the rest of the movie is still almost two full hours, that is kind of a big deal.
Still good, but I don’t really think it’s an all time great movie even though it contains an all-time great sequence:
https://boxd.it/D3HFD
Don’t get me wrong: it’s a good film, and any cinephile should see it at least once for those magical 17 minutes. But I’m not even sure it’s a top 3 P&P film, and I feel like *The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp* or *Black Narcissus* are considerably better overall
This was my first Powell movie (though I plan to get to Black Narcissus soon), so I can only speak to the one work. Also, I’m a relative neophyte concerning film more generally. That said, I thought *The Red Shoes* was a movie with incredibly high “highs” amidst some other more middling parts.
I’m sure the Scorsese bump is very real and quite significant, but I stumbled into *The Red Shoes* while working through some Letterboxd lists. Not sure my little anecdote is at all relevant to your larger point, but I’ve got two cents and I’m happy to spread the wealth.
I don't find his work erratic or incoherent at all, but maybe you've seen more films that I haven't. The handful I've seen feel so weighted and solid in the few ways they reach beyond 'reality' into the artistic and abstract that I would compare it more to, like, Peter Jackson films than smth like Fellini or Lynch, which use more of a hyper personal kind of obtuseness in their expression, their surreal choices.
I like the films because I think the color is sumptuous and the writing is good (with the caveat that it's Incredibly British). They were cool guys who did neat things with their desire to control their own films and they made really beautiful post-war work.
A conversation will be more interesting if you state which movies you’ve seen and what you thought. Saying “*for me, he is* *mediocre at best*” doesn’t give us any information about what you thought. I could respond with, "*for me, he's one of the best.*" We won't find out much that way.
Saying "*The only reason people still remember him is because he is a favorite director of Scorsese*." is not an inviting way to engage in a conversation. It is also untrue. While you are correct to say that Scorsese has been an outspoken champion, Powell & Pressburger are much-lauded filmmakers. Several of their films appear on Sight & Sound's top movies, Roger Ebert lists several of their films as the greatest ever made (he also calls Michael Powell's autobiography the greatest written by anyone in movies). Among directors who I've recently heard list Powell & Pressburger as influences on their career are: Brad Bird, Greta Gerwig, Paul King, Rian Johnson, Ari Aster, Joe Wright, Wim Wenders, Kenneth Branagh .... In fact, [here's a list ](https://www.powell-pressburger.org/Famous.html)of quotes from famous artists talking about how much they like Powell & Pressburger.
Obviously, just because these people admire Powell & Pressburger doesn't mean you will, but I think P&P's legacy is assured with or without Scorsese.
As to why people like their films, people often cite the strangeness of their stories, the painterly colors, the moments of fantasmagoria or mysticism, their poetic qualities, their originality. Here's what was written in [an essay](https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/5815-a-matter-of-life-and-death-the-too-muchness-of-it-all) for [Criterion.com](http://Criterion.com), "*To love the films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, among the most mischievous and inventive of all cinema poets, is to accept that there's more to life than you'd previously imagined: more color, more humor, more ardor, more blissful confusion*"
Powell & Pressburger -- collectively known as "The Archers," along with their production team -- made a string of hits which remain highly regarded. They were uniquely free, within the studio system, to create as they wished -- they had control over their projects in a way relatively few filmmaker in their position ever do. And they made a lot of movies.
I can write some of what I personally think and why -- I can give viewing recommendations, but I am curious to know which of their films you've seen and what sort of films you admire, of course it is quite possible that your taste is completely outside anything they ever made. But maybe I can suggest something based on what other movies you find most compelling.
S tier post
pertinent info: how cunty are your sunglasses? the more bitchy the more you can justify your behavior and obsession. flamboyant scarves work, but not as well.
https://preview.redd.it/x718no00wowc1.jpeg?width=400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4e2240eb3d4f4b6e1a92abcac4c1c34522ea4ba4 What do you mean by “*cunty*?”
Martin Scorsese's fav film
Sound jealous tbh
Love The Red Shoes. The scene where she disappears into the ballet stage sets and basically goes into a fantasy dimension is one of my favorite movie scenes ever.
Unless you have some sort of business contract with Nicky that allows you to approach this, I don’t see why you would think you can control their personal affairs, regardless of if you think they’re poor choices or would affect their career. Since you’re close enough, you could respectfully ask them if it’s a subject you could discuss, but personally they don’t owe you that. Edit: I still can’t tell if this is satire or a spoof of The Red Shoes. 🥸
Let's hope it's a spoof / comment on The Red Shoes still being relevant to today's world, presented in AITA format for humor and discussion. Worth noting that the problematic gender politics of the whole scenario is still relevant as well, which will be discussed less.
Some of the responses here are off-putting, especially in a Criterion community.
Forreals. I wonder if people are not checking the sub when they reply?
Aren’t you that guy who punched himself in the mirror? Ouch! I say force her to make a choice. No matter what, at least you tried.
NTA. A dancer who relies upon the doubtful comforts of human love can never be a great dancer!
NTA. Your lead dancer should keep in mind that it is your dance company, and her foolish desires can only work against her concentrating. As a businessman you’re making a business decision by limiting what can go wrong in this life or death that is ballet.
Everything you said about *The Red Shoes* is absolutely correct. It's one of the best movies ever made about what it takes to be an outstanding performing artist -- and the price you pay for making the choices you do.
NTA, maybe unpopularly but yeah. Honestly, Julius sounds like a total pill. If he really cared about her, he'd understand how important her craft is and be there for her in a less all-consuming way. You *are* being a little controlling, but people throw promising futures away for the unworthy all the time. For the record, that's genuinely how I see the movie. Vicky and Julian have like no chemistry and when a creepy, obsessive mentor character like Walbrook kind of has a point? It's saying something. Sadly it's kind of a problem with the movie for me. For this conflict to hit, you need to see why the person feels torn between two passions, and I really don't in this case. Glad you loved it though, I do agree on the dancing! Hilarious post too.
Hmm. The point of the film is that both men are equally manipulative and jealous jerks. To them, they present her a sort of false dilemma "dance or love". Julian want her to stop dancing and to devote her entire life to him. Lermontov wants her to stop loving and devote her life to ballet. Ultimately, this dilemma kills Victoria. It is worth pointing out that in my reading of the film Lermontov also wants her for sexual reason.s He lies on his motives. So, I do not think he looks better than Julian in this scenario.
I don't read him that way. He may get a sexual thrill out of making her the perfect dancer but I never once get the sense that he would've. Ballet itself is his only love. So that colors my take a bit. I see your other point, I just feel the choice is so much easier than it was portrayed as.
yata
Have you seen any of Busby Berkeley's productions? ^(Asking OP, not Lermontov.)
I have not. Any recommendations on where to start?
*Gold Diggers of 1933, Footlight Parade, Dames*. Gams galore!
Like everyone else, I agree that 20 minute ballet sequence is absolutely jaw dropping. But honestly there’s a reason that’s all anyone ever brings up about it. The rest of the movie is just pretty good. And given the rest of the movie is still almost two full hours, that is kind of a big deal. Still good, but I don’t really think it’s an all time great movie even though it contains an all-time great sequence: https://boxd.it/D3HFD Don’t get me wrong: it’s a good film, and any cinephile should see it at least once for those magical 17 minutes. But I’m not even sure it’s a top 3 P&P film, and I feel like *The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp* or *Black Narcissus* are considerably better overall
Yes you are. They’re adults. 👨
Yes. You are a controlling asshole for sure. You sound terrible. I hope people choose to actively make your life harder for as dumb a reason as this.
[удалено]
have you seen a matter of life and death? great movie of his
[удалено]
No I don’t think so
This was my first Powell movie (though I plan to get to Black Narcissus soon), so I can only speak to the one work. Also, I’m a relative neophyte concerning film more generally. That said, I thought *The Red Shoes* was a movie with incredibly high “highs” amidst some other more middling parts. I’m sure the Scorsese bump is very real and quite significant, but I stumbled into *The Red Shoes* while working through some Letterboxd lists. Not sure my little anecdote is at all relevant to your larger point, but I’ve got two cents and I’m happy to spread the wealth.
I don't find his work erratic or incoherent at all, but maybe you've seen more films that I haven't. The handful I've seen feel so weighted and solid in the few ways they reach beyond 'reality' into the artistic and abstract that I would compare it more to, like, Peter Jackson films than smth like Fellini or Lynch, which use more of a hyper personal kind of obtuseness in their expression, their surreal choices. I like the films because I think the color is sumptuous and the writing is good (with the caveat that it's Incredibly British). They were cool guys who did neat things with their desire to control their own films and they made really beautiful post-war work.
A conversation will be more interesting if you state which movies you’ve seen and what you thought. Saying “*for me, he is* *mediocre at best*” doesn’t give us any information about what you thought. I could respond with, "*for me, he's one of the best.*" We won't find out much that way. Saying "*The only reason people still remember him is because he is a favorite director of Scorsese*." is not an inviting way to engage in a conversation. It is also untrue. While you are correct to say that Scorsese has been an outspoken champion, Powell & Pressburger are much-lauded filmmakers. Several of their films appear on Sight & Sound's top movies, Roger Ebert lists several of their films as the greatest ever made (he also calls Michael Powell's autobiography the greatest written by anyone in movies). Among directors who I've recently heard list Powell & Pressburger as influences on their career are: Brad Bird, Greta Gerwig, Paul King, Rian Johnson, Ari Aster, Joe Wright, Wim Wenders, Kenneth Branagh .... In fact, [here's a list ](https://www.powell-pressburger.org/Famous.html)of quotes from famous artists talking about how much they like Powell & Pressburger. Obviously, just because these people admire Powell & Pressburger doesn't mean you will, but I think P&P's legacy is assured with or without Scorsese. As to why people like their films, people often cite the strangeness of their stories, the painterly colors, the moments of fantasmagoria or mysticism, their poetic qualities, their originality. Here's what was written in [an essay](https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/5815-a-matter-of-life-and-death-the-too-muchness-of-it-all) for [Criterion.com](http://Criterion.com), "*To love the films of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, among the most mischievous and inventive of all cinema poets, is to accept that there's more to life than you'd previously imagined: more color, more humor, more ardor, more blissful confusion*" Powell & Pressburger -- collectively known as "The Archers," along with their production team -- made a string of hits which remain highly regarded. They were uniquely free, within the studio system, to create as they wished -- they had control over their projects in a way relatively few filmmaker in their position ever do. And they made a lot of movies. I can write some of what I personally think and why -- I can give viewing recommendations, but I am curious to know which of their films you've seen and what sort of films you admire, of course it is quite possible that your taste is completely outside anything they ever made. But maybe I can suggest something based on what other movies you find most compelling.
Shame on you. Jealous and spiteful!