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Rosetta is a masterpiece exercise in film/human emotion...

posted 19 years ago by racinemovies
25 replies | jump to latest

Rosetta is a masterpiece exercise in film/human emotion...

I for one fell in love with Rosetta, and wished I could save her from her misery.

This is a rare kind of film that examines its audience first. The profound reaction to this work inspired a new law prohibiting employers from paying teen workers less than the minimum wage in its home country (Belgium).
Ranked a #1 in the Arts and Spiritually significant films this is one of the most riveting, thought-provoking movies of it's kind.

It make you wonder if film critics like The Daily Mail's Chris Tookey actually bothered to watch it at all, or are just plan ignorant and soulless:

"This is the kind of film that does win awards at festivals, since it goes to the opposite extreme from glossy, sentimental Hollywood movies. It paints a profoundly depressing picture of its home country without bothering to offer any analysis or solutions, and features an unlovable central character who starts out overwrought and gets steadily madder.

The story is thin and repetitive, and the hand-held camera so unsteady and closely focused on the leading lady's face that it becomes tiresome. It received overwhelmingly favourable reviews and had virtually no appeal to a paying audience." - Chris Tookey

[–] MissRaedeLarge 18 years ago

I just happened to stumble onto this film and I immediately got sucked in. It's amazing how in every second of Rosetta, I'm reminded of things people take for granted in life.

The close-up camera angles and Dequenne's perpetually dismal expressions and mannerisms are excellent factors in creating the film's grave and depressing atmosphere.

Miss Jean Louise, Mister Arthur Radley. I believe he already knows you.

[–] Room45 18 years ago

Just saw the movie. Great cinama verite masterpiece.

[–] organicprankster 18 years ago

I'm surprised the OP or indeed anyone else could "fall in love" with Rosetta. I thought one of the strengths of the film is that there is no attempt whatsoever to make the girl likeable.

Namu Myoho Renge Kyo.

[–] bunnywithanaxe 17 years ago

Well, I liked her. She is smart and resourceful and determined and proud... which makes it all the more frustrating when these useful things become weapons.

Chris Tooney is a moron, BTW.

[–] BwlBoy 16 years ago

I gave this 8/10 and the story certainly attracted my interest but I have to say that the camerawork is about as amateurish as I have seen in a film. I have read reviews which indicated this was a controversial choice in 1999 for the Palme D'or. Was this down to the look of the film?

[–] coy_dog0 16 years ago

People can argue how 'good' or 'bad' this film is, but the fact remains: you can't take your eyes off of it. Rosetta's struggle is infinitely more compelling than any of the 'twists and turns' of the Hollywood machine. Sure, this type of filmmaking style can theoretically result in a dud, but I find that the directors with the guts to shoot in Cinema Verite/Dogme style usually do so because they're interested in the human condiition, not spectacle.

So essentially, all 'one star' reviews here are by people that would rather watch CSI on their High Definition TVs so they can see another helicopter shot of Miamai. They simply don't get it.

Sure, there are films in this style that are better, and its possible that it didn't deserve *all* of its praise, but the 90 minutes we share with Rosetta are more worthwhile than a thousand hours of Hollywood pap.

[–] IEatWords 12 years ago

I had to fastforward it. The drama in this movie is very Hollywood, based on sensation moreso than realism. Poor people would gladly take welfare or the job that the friend offered, instead of resorting to almost letting him drown or taking his job by the scheme. It's a weak screenplay.

[–] tetrahex 11 years ago

Yea it seems people read way more into this film than is there, its just poverty porn.

[–] daniel4242 9 years ago

Glad you know and understand what all "poor people" would do. It must be frustrating to you when someone in a movie doesn't perform exactly like you expect a stereotype to act. The fact she was PROUD and wouldn't except welfare is a positive and one of the reason I liked the movie. Many "poor people" may be lazy welfare grabbers, but that doesn't mean all of them. She was just a kid and fighter, struggling against stacked odds and terrible conditions. That should be encouraged and not condescended to.

[–] IEatWords 9 years ago

She would rather murder than accept charity. Strange world you live in to consider this a good thing. Like the other user said, this is poverty porn that marches to the beat of it's own stereotyped drum.

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[–] daniel4242 9 years ago

Hmmm, didn't see her murder anyone.

[–] IEatWords 9 years ago

She came close to watching someone die, just because she wanted his job. We must feel bad for her though, because she's so "oppressed", instead of sympathizing with the guy who's too caught up in his good nature to recognize that the girl he's helping is nothing more than an ungrateful little scumbag.

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[–] ppllkk 9 years ago

IEatWords wrote:

We must feel bad for her though, because she's so "oppressed",

No. All she wants is a job and a normal life. She wants it desperately and she can't get it for reasons that are no fault of hers.I do not understand the people who cannot empathize with her.

[–] IEatWords 9 years ago

Whose fault was it for getting pregnant? And her answer is to try and kill the growing baby. What a gal. Some people feel more sympathy for criminals than their victims, and I feel this is the case here. I personally think there's far better people in the world deserving of sympathy, but that's your call.

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[–] PoppyTransfusion 9 years ago

She would rather murder than accept charity.

Hrmhh, this is not so strange. She resents that young man in many ways - he has a job and he cheats and he pities her. Such sentiments inspire envy and murderousness. Accepting charity is not a simple process for many people let alone a determined character like Rosetta, who, lest we forget, has been raised by an alcoholic mother. Many children of addicts are self-sufficient sometimes extremely so.

In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer

[–] IEatWords 9 years ago

I'm sure it happens, and those people are rightly locked up, but it's not the norm. Only a screenwriter seeking sympathy through poverty porn would choose this story. Envious people are parasites - nothing is ever good enough if they see someone else has more, no matter how little it affects them otherwise than the knowing of it. Some of the worst qualities of a human right there. It has it's roots in mob culture, which is why it appeals to a certain type of sympathizer.

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[–] ryankent1984 16 years ago

I completely disagree with BwlBoy's comment on the camera work. Most of the Dardenne's film career prior to the nineties was based in documentary making, hence the style of their feature films. It is meant to look as naturalistic as possible and it works.

One reason I like their films is because of the way they have a documentary aesthetic to the visuals. It makes them seem more real.

If anything, I believe the camerawork added to Rosetta's appeal, not distract from it. A year later Dancer in the Dark won the Palme d'Or, which was shot in a very similar fashion.

[–] BwlBoy 16 years ago

I've seen Dancer in the Dark and the camerawork is far more conventional than Rosetta. I may as well say I completely disagree with your opinion that the camerawork adds to the appeal of the film.

[–] HornyDonkey 13 years ago

This is simply beautiful.
The use of subtleties in this film is utterly perfect. Nothing is overdone. And the ending, wow! talk about the power of simplicity. It's one of the most powerful yet simplest endings I've ever seen.

My List:
http://www.imdb.com/list/2oNF6wXyc5k/

[–] ibbi 13 years ago

It's what the Dardenne's do best. Small human observation that goes a long, long way.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YZb8s7Kxa4

[–] nafbm 13 years ago

I think Rosetta is Dardenne Brothers's best film and one of greatest films in 90s.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] henrimaine 10 years ago

It received overwhelmingly favourable reviews and had virtually no appeal to a paying audience

Interesting point. Since I didn't have to pay to watch this film, I'm very favorable towards it.

[–] franzkabuki 9 years ago

Well I sort of half agree with that Chris Tookey character inasmuch as the relentlessly fidgety handheld camerawork does get a little distracting at times... and since I've probably never seen another movie in which the camera is so tightly glued to the protagonist throughout... I guess that, too, 'can' get tiresome. Ultimately though it's a rather powerful peace of work, in a large part thanks to Dequenne who is everything she needs to be here.

"facts are stupid things" Ronald Reagan

[–] PoppyTransfusion 9 years ago

I sort of half agree with that Chris Tookey character

Uh-oh!

In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer