Reviews

This film is one of those in which people don't say much, but you miss absolutely nothing because of it. All the emotions of the characters are immediately evident as you see them struggle for survival in spite of the natural beauty that surrounds them. Although the story might make some people say "so what?" its simplicity and the unobtrusive way in which it is shot are in themselves a statement, even a political statement (one should remember that Eastern European films are censored before they are released or even produced). One film that came to mind when watching "Krava" (The Cow) was Vittorio de Sica's "Bicycle Thieves" same problem, different setting. Watch it and let yourself be engrossed by the lives of these people; you'll laugh and cry for them.

Jaco Van Dormael conjures up (he was a magician and a clown) one of those films that because of their formal beauty and intelligent content deserve to be seen more often but are not. The film is full of internal echoes, images that resurface under different contexts, and make you rethink them again and again (dare I say like in Citizen Kane?). As if that were not enough, there are many other resonances to genres and specific films that will make film buffs laugh with excitement: quotations to gangster films, to Hitchcock, to Bunuel, etc. are all there to be discovered and enjoyed. Alan Moore would be smiling at the construction of this beautiful crystal web that is the narrative of this film. See it and rejoice...

A great concept, fully realized and taking the advantages of the qualities of the film medium to exploit it. The use of still images will probably shock and bore most people, but on keen minds its use will dawn a new understanding of its central time paradox. Like all great films, there is a touch of ambiguity that serves only to make its main idea all the more interesting to watch. Do not ignore 12 MONKEYS if you like "la Jette". I wouldn't dare to keep people away from another great film, since after all it is only based, and not a remake of "La Jette" 12 Monkeys has its own charm and formal qualities, quite distinct from Marker's style. Do watch 12 Monkeys if you enjoy films that deal with the time travel and its ultimate metaphysical consequences, as "La Jette", both are great pieces of auteurism and show the ultimate power of film to portray complex concepts.