Feb 2023 *
Aren't there any posts about Phenomena here? We have definitely discussed it, at least the excellent scene toward the end with the impromptu abrupt beheading.
I just wanted to mention something cool about it. The Wikipedia article on it says Argento intended the film to be set in a world in which the Nazis had (perhaps secretly, I think) actually WON WWII. I guess he ended up deciding not to stress that idea too overtly, and instead spent his energy developing the dreamlike atmosphere of the film. But, if you pay attention, you can definitely see very clearly that that idea was in his mind. First of all, click here, scroll down to the section titled Production, and read the little box of text that appears on the right.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenomena_(film)
Anyway, yeah, if you watch it attentively, I can totally see that that's what he had in mind as he was working on the film. Just look at the headmistress in the school, for one thing. Major Nazi vibes going on there. Bigtime. Also, the school was supposed to be the former home of Richard Wagner, sooooo... yah. Also, the only character who is obviously Jewish does not last long at all, when he shows up (see my comment earlier, concerning abrupt beheadings). This might also apply to Jennifer's roommate at the school, the French girl Sophie, just because she is French. I'm not as sure about that.... also, in the scene in the classroom, the quote they discuss has something to do with remembering the past... if you read the Argento quote in the Wikipedia text box, it makes a lot of sense that he would want to include a discussion somewhere where they talk about memory of the past.
The movie is also completely insane, of course, because of all the bug stuff, and for plenty of other reasons. I like all the shots they have of trees in the dark, at night, with branches blowing in the wind... I have talked about that here before, I think there is something very effective about including shots like that, it just helps set the mood somehow.
Anyway, yeah, I just wanted to share this.
I just wanted to mention something cool about it. The Wikipedia article on it says Argento intended the film to be set in a world in which the Nazis had (perhaps secretly, I think) actually WON WWII. I guess he ended up deciding not to stress that idea too overtly, and instead spent his energy developing the dreamlike atmosphere of the film. But, if you pay attention, you can definitely see very clearly that that idea was in his mind. First of all, click here, scroll down to the section titled Production, and read the little box of text that appears on the right.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenomena_(film)
Anyway, yeah, if you watch it attentively, I can totally see that that's what he had in mind as he was working on the film. Just look at the headmistress in the school, for one thing. Major Nazi vibes going on there. Bigtime. Also, the school was supposed to be the former home of Richard Wagner, sooooo... yah. Also, the only character who is obviously Jewish does not last long at all, when he shows up (see my comment earlier, concerning abrupt beheadings). This might also apply to Jennifer's roommate at the school, the French girl Sophie, just because she is French. I'm not as sure about that.... also, in the scene in the classroom, the quote they discuss has something to do with remembering the past... if you read the Argento quote in the Wikipedia text box, it makes a lot of sense that he would want to include a discussion somewhere where they talk about memory of the past.
The movie is also completely insane, of course, because of all the bug stuff, and for plenty of other reasons. I like all the shots they have of trees in the dark, at night, with branches blowing in the wind... I have talked about that here before, I think there is something very effective about including shots like that, it just helps set the mood somehow.
Anyway, yeah, I just wanted to share this.
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