MovieChat Forums > La leggenda del pianista sull'oceano (1998) Discussion > This only appeals to intellectuals

This only appeals to intellectuals

posted 20 years ago by Bordo15
31 replies | jump to latest

I love this movie dearly, and although it is not Tornatore's greatest, it fits into my top 5. No one can understand the movie if they aren't intellectual. There are a lot of philosophys in the movie and to appreciate the movie, you have to get your mind going a lot. Many of the things Roth and Vince say throughout the movie are things only loners like they are can possibly think of. Only the true creative movie mind and think up diolague like this. Besides this, the movie is excellent along with acting. One of Roth's greatest and abviously Vince's greatest.

[–] holygrey 20 years ago

It's not because you can't figure out the philosophies that are in it, that you can't enjoy the film, nor that you have to be an intellectual to watch it. It was about so much more than those more subtle things.
Your post suggests that you think of yourself as highly intellectual. That could be, of course, but still it wouldn't be very modest then.

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does anybody remember laughter?

[–] aroth15 20 years ago

I agree with you, holygrey. I am--I guess--an "intellectual." Two PhD's, etc. This film by no means appeals only to intellectuals, but has a more psychological theme. I think the most perceptive comment about it was made by someone on another of the threads ("Indie-0401"?), who writes that the film is about our fears and how we deal or, in this case, FAIL to deal with them. 1900 was unable to overcome his childhood fears and, consequently, unable to leave the ship, i.e. "grow up." The film is a metaphor or fable for maturation and human psychosexual development. He remains a prisoner of his childhood. Not a great film by any standard but, in a world of trash, a minor pearl. Just my comment. Thanks.

Allen Roth
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.--Burke

[–] holygrey 20 years ago

Nicely put!

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does anybody remember laughter?

[–] Hawkian 20 years ago

Ugh... A fable for human psychosexual maturation?

I don't like this thread- by no means do you have to be an "intellectual" to appreciate the movie, nor do you have to even understand the presented philosophies to derive enjoyment from it. It has an incredible soundtrack and score, great dialogue and plenty of unique and memorable scenes.

That said, looking at the movie from an intellectual perspective can enhance its quality. Looking into the aspects of the characters and how the play off of each other, as well as their contrasting philosophies, can add a really nice layer of meaning and provide some food for thought about the human condition. Is the yearning to wander that plagues all of mankind really what defines us? And what would happen if 1900's life was the only life you knew? That kind of thing.

That said, I don't think this particular pearl is even attempting to delve into the depravity of the human psyche. Movies that require this much whimsical suspension of disbelief rarely trap their main characters in a Freudian nightmare- you might be looking too deep.

I liked it.

[–] zhenca 20 years ago

I agree. You don't have to be an intellectual to understand or like this film. It grabs you emotionally. Everything in the movie - a heavenly music score, a wonderful cinematography, a captivating plot, unforgetable and indeed unique scenes along with fine potrayal of the main characters and underlying humor - affects you on a much deeper emotional level than mere attempting to analyze the hidden psychological complexes or fears of the character.

Of course, you can interpret this film in terms of a metaphor for how people define their existence, how they deal with challenges and what choices they make, the story in the movie being an example of a life in, let's say, extreme and quite fantasy-like circumstances.

However, there are some films that simply move you and you like them just because of that.

(Call me sentimental if you wish :))

[–] andiepoo 19 years ago

There is a difference between understanding (thoroughly, I mean, as maybe an "intellectual" would) and appreciation. I watched this movie for the first time when I was in sixth grade and I loved it, and every time I watched it again up until now, I keep finding new things to like about it. So maybe the movie does appeal to the intellect on some level, but taken as just a wonderful story that is also is, is not so bad either.

[–] hakeem-8 19 years ago

Could we all now just agree that this is one of those few movies who appeals to people on all levels, whether they're IQ -100 or sinking under the pile of Ph.D-s? ;)

[–] hakeem-8 20 years ago

I don't mean to insult you by any means, nor the two Ph.D's you got, but I think you've really misunderstood the movie. If I were to start joking, I could ask - Read too much Freud lately? ;)

I already wrote a very long post about this movie to the "Jump Ships" thread here and I don't think there's much point in starting to write the same thing over again, so to get a *full answer* please see the other thread, but to cut it short:

It’s a metaphor for the human condition, that is, just as the central character 1900 lives his entire life within the limitations of the ship on which he was born and yet creates a life for himself which far exceeds those limitations, all of us who travel within the limitations of our existence have the potential to create lives which transcend our apparent and circumstantial limitations.

[–] SirPittis 19 years ago

Thank you.

[–] nick_ahaaaaa 20 years ago

Jesus Christ - Was one of your 'PHD's' in psychology by any chance. Fair enough trying to incorporate Freuds psychodynamic model into the film but it think there are quite a few other psychological theories to why '1900' doesn't want to get off the boat. I'm not an expert in psychology by any means but the film is about more than goddam freud. Its heartwarmin and about the friendship between the two main characters. Its about a man who lives his whole goddam life on a boat. its about his talent. its about his philosophies and many other things apart from that.

Not to be mean but it is a great film and was directed by a great, original director.

Sorry about the dig on freud, but i'm a complete geek and i have nothing else to do with my life other than post disagreeing comments on imdb. But i'm afraid you may be wrong.

Anyone agree (or more to the point - does anyone think i should get a life?)

peace dudeareenos

[–] pigolio_di_stelle 20 years ago

I'm lucky enough to be originally Italian, and all I can say is that you should read the original text by Alessandro Baricco...read all of them, castelli di rabbia, seta... they're amazing. In original language though - I couldn't imagine them translated.
Don't need to be intellectuals, just need to have a soul, to appreciate beautiful things. That's it. No matter if you have phd's or if you left school.
If you have some sort of artistic sensibility you'll appreciate it anyway.
This is what I think.

Peace

[–] Lillita1957 20 years ago

I’m not an “intellectual” I never was a straight A student, and I haven’t been to college…and I LOVED the film! I thought it was beautiful! I first saw this movie when I was 16 and I cried the first time I saw it, and to this day I’ve seen it about 10 times and I cry every time…and I think you don't have to be an intellectual to get this film and see the beauty in it...but that's just my opinion...

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"Masquerade! Grinning yellows, spinning reds! Masquerade! Take your fill, let the spectacle astound you!"
~ Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (2004)

[–] UCM 20 years ago

People just have to open up.

[–] gnargnar 20 years ago

i would have to say that it's not just for intellectuals, because even if you don't understand the philosophy, and ideals it still looks amazing and is immensly entertaining

could be twenty years, could be tonight.

[–] em-ma 20 years ago

There are only three things you need to adore this film, and you only need one of them. I have all three and so this film hit me like a sledgehammer. One, a love of beautiful cinematography and soul-touching cinema. Two, a love of music in all its forms, from classical to jazz and beyond. Three, a love of the ocean and/or cruise ships.

I'm assuming, twolazy4work, from your comment, that you've never heard the voice of the ocean? I have and I wept during this film, almost from start to finish.

Of course, the basic prerequisite to appreciate this film is a soul, not an intellect. If you don't know that, you _really_ didn't get the movie!

[–] fezman2k4 20 years ago

Well said em-ma, and in the words of our dearly departed 1900 'F&@k the PhDs!!'

[–] sigma_cheEse 20 years ago

Woohoo! twolazy4work just called me an intellectual!
Too bad my physics teacher doesn't think so...

That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] xvegasx 20 years ago

Anyone whom considers him/herself an intellectual because they find it appealing is an imbecill. A 10 year old kid can figure this flick out, infact i think its meant to be a kids movie.

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] Aerlix 19 years ago

Seriously the second you declare yourself an intellectual or list your PHDs you really do deserve to be taken to the cleaners; its one of the dumbest things you can do.

[–] Aerlix 19 years ago

For the record I know someone who had 2 PHD's and thought 'Phenomenon' was the best film ever made.

[–] kenny5637 19 years ago

Okay, I guess the original poster must be an "intellectual" who tried to show the movie to his friends and they didn't like it, but it was only because "they were dumb." Of course, he also might have talked to someone who saw it but didn't like it, and he arrived at the same conclusion.

I have movies that I love, but wouldn't bother to try to show to some of my friends. These friends aren't necessarily dumb by any measure. It's just that they're not film fans in the way I am. What they look for and appreciate in a film, is extremely different from what I look for and appreciate. By the same token, if I go to an art exhibit with a friend of mine, the value of my opinion drops as I have little familiarity with art. (Pollock, Van Gogh, Dali...They're just about all I know.)

Basically, I find something pompous and narrow-minded about a post that says one has to be intellectual to enjoy this. The person seemed to have this ridiculous attitude that liking this film put him in a special exclusive club made of smart people who apparently appreciate good "philosophys." The movie isn't specifically for intellectuals. It's for experienced movie-goers, or at least people who dig this type of story.