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The Unbearable Liyhtnes af Being
*W (Orion) — Rated R
(at the Oakridge cinema)

IS - Friday, March 4, 1988 - North Shore News

raikd“Teunase Wew Gzech saga

Likeness of Boring."

ivccins prominin FRAKES love dull

humor as young neurosurgeon
Tomas (Daniel Day-Lewis) whistles
cheerfully while operating in a
Czech spa prior to the 1968 Rus-
sian invasion. Here, he meets
Tereza (Juliette Binoche), a shy,
country waif, anxious to escape
her sheltered life. A strong mutual
attraction pulls them together and,
for the next 3% mind-numbing
hours, we follow them through
social and personal upheaval as
Just turns to love.

TIM
BELL

film reviewer

Complications challenge the two
lovers, however. Tomas’ womaniz-
ing continues after he marries,
especially with Sabina (Lena Olin),
a free-spirited sculptor. But the
most divisive event occurs when
the Russians crush the increasing
liberalism in Praguc.

This film doesn't need scissors;
it needs pruning shears. Characters
meander in and out, events drag
on, the locations shift, but only
Tereza's character changes. Rather
than focus on her, though, the
story becomes an endurance test
with Tomas’ endless seductions of
women clad in black lingerie.

The excess continues when the
music lapses into parody. Small
questioning piano trills are used in
a ridiculous attempt to underline
an ominous event. Sven Nykvist's
photography is schizophrenic at
times. An early sex scene includes
some bizarre camera angles ina
confusing attempt to give a sense
of giddiness. A constant use of
reflections, making some obscure
point about dual natures, and
some deadening philosophical
dialogue (‘‘Life is like an outline,
incomplete ...’"), bury the intensity
of the love story.

Still, some powerful images can
be found. The invasion of Prague
in the middle of the night is
heralded by distant rumblings as a
glass shakes on a table. The ar-
mored vehicle fills the strect, its
spotlight a scattering force. The
actual invasion is cleverly shown
by blending black and white
newsreel footage with the fictional
characters.

Humor comes naturally from
the characters. One memorable
cast member is a peasant farmer
who has been operated on by
Tomas. The relationship he has
with Mephisto, his pet pig, is
amusing and a welcome relief from
the angst-riddled leads.

Sabina, the bowler-topped beau-
ty, electrifies her scenes with
smouldering sexuality. There are
several erotic bouts but the
highlight occurs when she and
Tereza share an encounter that
first arouses and then amuses.

But these moments are too few
and far between. John Ford said a
classic has three great scenes and
no bad ones. Unfortunately, this
film meets the first requirement
only.

Short Takes

The Lost Boys ***
(Warner Home Video) - Rated M

This vampire gem scores high as
both a comedy and a horror film.
Corey Haim plays cocky young
Sam who moves to sunny Santa
Clara (‘Murder Capital of the
World"’) with his older brother,
Michael (Jason Patric) and mother
(Diane Wiest). In short order,
Michael falls in with a pack of
undead, led by the charismatic
Kiefer Sutherland, and Sam must
nail the delinquent Draculas to
save his brother's soul.

Genuinely eerie flying sequences
and a good supporting cast
(especially Corey Feldman and
Jamison Newlander as Sam’s
Rambo-type friends, Edgar and
Allan Frog), highlight this spooky
tongue-in-cheek flick.

Superman IV - The Quest for
Peace **%
(Warner Home Video) - Rated G

This year marks the Man of
Steel’s goiden anniversary and
Warner has seen fit to release the
latest installment of the Saga. This
one is a decided improvement over
the previous entry, but falls short
of the first two. Despite patchy
special effects, the story moves
briskly along with some good lines
by Lex Luther (Gene Hackman)
and an interesting plot. Can
Superman save mankind from
itself? Will Lex’s creation, the ra-
dioactive Nuclearman, spell the
end to the Krypton orphan? Will
the world’s oldest Boy Scout
lighten up and stop to smell the
roses? Some rainy Sunday after- ,
noon, these questions and more
can be answered.

Additionally, to celebrate the
50th birthday, Warner has released
some of the George Reeves’ TV
shows and Kirk Alyn’s movie
serials of the ’40s. Go ahead —

pop the corn, curl up and wallow
: in nostalgia.

Christian coffeehouse recks

PEOPLE OF all ages are invited to visit the
Vineyard Cafe, a coffeehouse in the New
Life Christian Centre.

Located at 2800 Mountain Highway, the
cafe opens its doors every Friday at 8 p.m.
and features ping-pong, pool tables and a
snack bar. Admission is free.

Tonight, March 4, the Christian rock
band Res-Q will perform. Pacific Salt Co.,
a touring comedy and drama troupe, will be
featured on March 18.

For further information call Anya Varda |
at 929-1517.