DVD Review: Archangel (B+)

Archangel (1990)
Directed By Guy Maddin
Grade: B+

Review by Scott Standish

Guy Maddin makes beautifully strange films, and Archangel is a near perfect mix of the bizarre and the classic. The movie plays like a black and white dream, with silent movie titles and strange lighting, all coated with glittery snowfall. Its hard to understand at times, but like an avant garde painting, Archangel is meant to be enjoyed for its sheer beauty.

Best known for the feature Careful (1992), Guy Maddin has shocked the world with a unique style that can only be explained by it's obvous influences: German Expressionism, silent film acting, classic black and white horror films and the modern surrealist style of master director David Lynch. As in Careful, scratchy effects overlay Archangel to give it a fake "aged look" and it really looks as if it were shot in 1930.

Archangel tells the the story of a love triangle set in the backdrop of World War 1 Russia (the strange cities of Archangel and Murmansk). Lt. John Boles is in love with Iris, but at times confuses the lovely Veronka for her. Veronka is married to Philbin, who has amnesia.

To be honest, the story is pretty ludicrous and confusing, but this film is all about technique, and the insane dialogue that pushes this classic into a surreal froth. The cinematography is gorgeous and the sound design is top notch.

If you like strange movies, give this a try. If you are a David Lynch fan and aren't familiar with Guy Maddin, this is a must see. Come to think of it, Lynch and Maddin need to work together on something. I would be really interested to see if weird + weird = really weird. I bet it does.

Buy Archangel (Guy Maddin Collection) On DVD