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语言：其它

地区：其它

年份：2002

演员：Juris / Podnieks

导演：赫兹·弗兰克

简介：ForasmallnationLatviaseemstohaveproducedadisproportionatenumberofexceptionallytalenteddocumentaryfilmmakers.Perhapsowingtothedevelopmentoftheschoolofpoeticdocumentaryfilm-makinginRigainthe1960'sthelikesofHerzFrank,JurisPodnieks,theSeleckiclan,UnaCelmaandLailaPakalninaenjoyaglobalreputation.OutofthemallitisquitepossiblyFrankwhoisthebestknownandwellrespected.Themanbehindsuchclassicsas"10MinutesOlder,""TheSevenSimeons,"and"TheLastJudgment,"hehasservedasateacher,mentorandaninspirationtoseveralgenerationsofLatvianfilmmakers.InFlashbackthemanwhodevotedhisentirecareertoexaminingandrecordingthelivesofothersturnsinwardsandfocusesthelensonhisownlifeandcareer.Whatemergesisaportraitofamanwhohasbeendrivenbytheneedtounderstandthehumanconditionandwhoattheageof75,facingopenheartsurgery,isnotsurewhetherhehasseenenoughtounderstandandyetwearyfromhavingseentoomuch.Parttravelogue,partbiographyandpartmediationonthenatureofdocumentaryfilm-makingandlife,Frankmixesfootagefromhispreviousworkswithmorerecentworktoaccentuateandattempttoilluminatehispresent.OpeningwithfootageoftheOMONattackinRigain1991whichtookthelivesofcameramenAndrisSlapinsandGvidoZvaigzne,FrankfreezesonanimageofJurisPodnieks(afrequentcollaboratorandformerstudentandcameramanofFrank's),ashisfaceregisterstheshockandrealizationthathisowncameramenhavejustpaidwiththeirlivesforhisandtheirdesiretopursueanddocumentreality.(Podniekshimselfwoulddieinatragicscubadivingaccidentonlyayearlater.)AsPodnieks'facialexpressionsplayoutinslowmotion,FrankcutstoanexcerptfromhisandPodnieksperhapsbestknownworkTenMinutesOlder.TenMinutesOlderwasasingletakeshotwithminimallightingrecordingthereactionsofchildrenastheyarewatchingapuppetshow.Theirfacescoveringthespectrumofhumanexpressionandemotionfromjoytosorrow.FromtherehecutstothefaceofoneofthechildreninTenMinutesOlderinthepresentday.Thesettingisnowcompletelydifferent.Ratherthanaplayinwhichweexpectemotion,wenowfindthechildasamaninthemiddleofaninternationalbridgetournamentwheretheexpressionofemotionneedstobesuppressedatallcosts.Thefaceisolder,butunmistakableinitsidentity.Whatmaybehiddenfromhisopponentssittingonlyinchesawayacrossthetableisevidentinthenakedeyeofthecamera.Itisthisnakednessandwhatitultimatelyshowsus,andourdesireandneedtoseeitthatisatthecoreofFlashback.ThefilmcoversInthisdayofanendlessglutofrealityTVshowswhichplaytoourmostprurientdesiresFlashbackremindsofusourhigherneedforthenakednessof"reality"thatthecameracanprovide,ourfascinationwithitandwhatitcanultimatelytellusaboutourselves.Themajorweaknessofthefilmisthatitisattimesdisjointedanddiscordant.Thefilmattemptstodotoomuchallatonce.Anyofthetopicshetoucheson,fromhisopenheartsurgerytohiswife'slongillnessanddeath,fromhisrelationshipwithPodniekstothefollowuptothecharactersinTenMinutesOlder,hisfather'slifeandlegacy,hisownjourneyfromRigatoJerusalem,amongmanyothers,deservedandwouldhavebeenbetterservedbytheirownfilms.WeareoftenleftwishingthathehadstayedwithaparticularstorylinewhileFrankandhiscamerahavealreadymovedon.Eventhefootagefromhispastworks,whilepoignantlyaccentuatingthepresent,oftenleavesusdesiringasecondandlongerlookatthepastratherthanreturningtothepresentorjumpingtothenextsubject.Despitethisflawthefilmisafascinatinglookatamanfascinatedwithlookingatpeopleandthelivestheylead.Acollagesometimesleavinguswantingformore,butalsoleavinguswithnodoubtsastotheskillsofitsmaker.