Kaiser Insurance Income

EL HOMBRE DE MIMBRE (Reino Unido, 1973)

Título Original: The Wicker Man . Address: Robert Hardy. Cast: Edward Woodward (Sergeant Howie), Christopher Lee (Lord Summerisle), Diane Cilento (Miss Rose), Britt Ekland (Willow), Ingrid Pitt (Head of Registration), Lindsay Kemp (Alder MacGreagor), Aubrey Morris (Undertaker), Ian Campbell (Oak), Russell Waters (Head of the port), Walter Carr (School teacher). Duration: 100 minutes .

Symptoms: A Police moral character decides to investigate a complaint about a missing girl on a remote island under its jurisdiction. Police beliefs come into conflict with the pagan religion that are all inhabitants of the island, followers of an ancient Druidic tradition, especially when you begin to suspect that the villagers have hidden the girl to offer a sacrifice so we can have a good harvest next year.

Diagnosis: As already noted on occasion in this madhouse, it's amazing the level of maturity and wisdom to the fantasy genre that came during the 70's before the inevitable arrival of senility in the mid-80 and subsequent artificial resuscitation attempt (based on remakes of classic refried) in so far this century.

therefore not surprising that among so many major titles that emerged during those years, were almost hidden a handful of masterpieces perhaps overshadowed by not making blockbusters of others or, as is the present case, the little faith placed in it some of its leaders. Wicker Man without a doubt belongs to the handful of pieces of worship that have been revalued over time the way of another of these small gems as Dead and buried , film with which it shares the perfect recreation of a microcosm of manners which will be gradually becoming threatening as the protagonist will unravel the secrets of a society seemingly gentle and harmless, debtors turn these the magnificent story of HP Lovecraft: The Shadow over Innsmouth .

The Wicker Man part of a novel by David Pinner 1967, titled "Ritual", for the film scripted by Anthony Shaffer great coming to write the scripts of paths masterpieces Sleuth and Frenzy. Shaffer gets, from the first lines of dialogue make us understand that we will see a special film, showing a great ability to distort reality without effective or surreal scenes. As one of our real dreams, we feel that something strange is happening but we can not figure out what. Thus, with the invaluable Shaffer complicity Robin Hardy, director of the film, creates an uneasiness in the viewer that will increasingly over the footage to the stunning final sequence.

is difficult to analyze the origin of the fascination that film causes the viewer as Hardy does not use any cash ever, no blood. Moreover, some scenes (like the time when Sergeant Howie decides to record the island from house to house) were shot with an unmistakable tone of comedy parody merely strengthen this distortion of reality and increase the anxiety in the viewer. Hardy shows the peaceful life of a Scottish population without explicitly showing nothing macabre or rugged. Only minor extraneous details, cracks for which we intuit something monstrous under a picture perfect manners of a small core. And of course, is his music, which deserves a mention special.

's magnificent soundtrack for Paul Giovanni , clearly reminiscent of folk and Celtic us into the hedonistic world of this population through a distinctly sexual lyrics (essential for it to follow the lyrics these parts) and catchy melodies that stay etched in our memory long after listening. Not for nothing has always defended Hardy (imagine boasting a fine irony) that it actually had been shot was not a horror film but a musical.

Sergeant Howie (which representing Christian beliefs, the commonly accepted by society "normal and honorable") is introduced as an alien element in a society that mixes the cult of tree as a phallic symbol of fertility with ancient Celtic and Druid celebrations represented today by Wicca School. One of the great musical numbers of the film revolves around the May Pole whose song (who recite some innocent children, thus emphasizing the ruggedness of the moment) makes it clear to the whole philosophy on which these beliefs are based more directed ; to the cycles of nature to the worship of a divine figure: "In the tree had a branch, and branch had a nest and the nest had an egg and the egg was a bird, and the bird had a pen, and pen was a bed, and the bed was a woman, and she had a boy, and the boy had a seed and the seed was a man, and man was a grave and the grave was a tree, and the tree was a branch ...". All this is reflected Shaffer and Hardy with wisdom and restraint, avoiding the main danger they could fall movie: becoming a cyclical product of ideology "hippie", so popular during the time which the film was shot.

Edward Woodward (in a role originally intended for Peter Cushing) is superb in his interpretation of religious and extremely dry Sergeant Howie, a police officer in his relentless search work of the girl despite the reluctance that produces lifestyle of those villagers. Christopher Lee, as the foremost authority on the island, shows an unprecedented look amusingly in his films, but despite this we can guess the total dedication to their role (see dancing is priceless in drag during the celebrations end.) Moreover, the film allows interpret one of the songs and demonstrate their exceptional talents as a baritone. Next to him within three beauties recurring fantasy: Ingrid Pitt, in a secondary role, Diane Cilento (ex-Sean Connery) and especially the beautiful Britt Ekland starring one of the most sexually sublime sequences all the fantastic: the moment when naked in her room, she sways to the beat of a captivating dance, invited by rhythmic clapping in the wall, Sgt beatific writhing in the bedroom next door as a saint rebel against the temptations of evil and beautiful entity: "Hello, Who's there?" Nobody but me, my dear. Please come to me. Tell me how to do things I'm going to do. " Another cast member who stands out is the famous actor and choreographer Lindsay Kemp , here plays the owner of the tavern.

The Willow sensual invitation

However, despite these and many other virtues of the film, Shaffer's script has its "black holes" . Chief among them is the subject too a surprise ending that is not so little that a viewer observer analyze the clues that the film will flail over its development through the script traps, red herrings and some inconsistency (why do the police do not investigate in any the correctness of the complaint in a population where everyone seems to collusion to hide information?). This may cause some dissatisfaction when our suspicions are confirmed in the final.

But excused these licenses, the film can certainly become an unforgettable experience and findings sequences truly remarkable: the aforementioned dance Britt Ekland (in a sort of symbiosis with their reputation for devouring men in real life) takes in his room, the trees planted on the graves, the girls dance naked in front of a menhir, and, of course, the design of "Wicker Man "a prison of doom for their imprisoned, their limbs stuffed animals dedicated to the great sacrifice and his empty stomach waiting for the great gift.

In 2006, Neil LaBute wrote and directed another version that fell into the errors that Hardy had wisely avoided without getting on the other hand, none of the successes of the original, becoming a bland and unnecessary remake lacks addition to the amorality of the first film. Fortunately, this is good news for all fans of this title, a septuagenarian Robin Hardy (after decades without getting behind the camera) has decided to shoot a sequel, The wicker Tree again with the participation of Christopher Lee , who never hid his fondness for this film, seeing it as the best of his career. I do not know whether your preference is exaggerated or not, but certainly I can say that Wicker Man is one of those select securities whose vision produces a sense of debt paid off in the amateur. May you enjoy it.