|
the number four I saw a Russian film called "4" and I found it to be very disturbing. The first twenty minutes or so of the movie were quite ordinary in terms of plot, but the remaining hour or more became very strange. We the viewer watch as a young woman returns to her village to attend the funeral of her sister. Once she gets to the village, the movie becomes frightening. We see old Russian women chew bread to provide material to make doll faces. As to why they did this task and for who they did it was never explained. From reading some reviews, I have learned that they were many parallels in the movie that dealt with the number four. Looking back I can remember a few of them, but as I was watching the movie most of them passed right by me. I was too caught up in the vulgarity of the old women and wondering what was happening. Maybe a better understanding of Russian culture would have helped me appreciate the in jokes and symbolism. Personally I found most of it be unsettling and confusing. |