As a cinephile with a penchant for the 60s and a deep affection for the Beatles, I am thrilled to learn about “TWST – Things We Said Today,” premiering at the Venice Film Festival. Director Andrei Ujică’s innovative approach to capturing the essence of that era, particularly the frenzy of Beatlemania, piques my interest.
John! Paul! George! Ringo! In the summer of 1965, it was all about the Beatles, readying for their gig at New York’s Shea Stadium. But “TWST – Things We Said Today,” premiering at the Venice Film Festival, is not another “pop-music documentary.” The film premieres an exclusive clip below.
“Director Andrei Ujică expresses that he’s not drawn to this genre specifically. Rather, he aimed to portray the atmosphere of the time. At that point, the generation wasn’t yet politically active and the social rights movement was just emerging,” is a natural and easy-to-read paraphrase of the original statement.
He couldn’t help but be fascinated by the frenzy of Beatlemania, however, sweeping the nation.
“Ujică notes that music can induce intense emotions akin to euphoria. In fact, fervor for composers like Franz Liszt had its own term, ‘Lisztmania.’ Similarly, when Sinatra sang, it was not uncommon for women to become so overcome with emotion that they would faint in the audience.”
“Thanks to technological advancements, the Beatles were able to connect with a larger audience, yet the boundary between art, music, and spiritual fervor has always been quite permeable. Perhaps it’s an inherent part of being human.”
In the movie, Ujică blended real archival footage, animation, and original plotlines as a way to explore “novel artistic approaches.”
The story revolves around a budding author striving to compose a brief tale during that particular summer. He possesses a pass for their concert and even accompanies the band to their press event, as his father is a renowned radio disc jockey.
Later on, a girl creates homemade Super 8 films as she journeys towards an eagerly awaited gathering too. It’s there where they possibly encounter each other, or perhaps she’s just a figment of his imagination? “She might just be a character in his writings? Quite possibly. Yet, it’s also my narrative. I penned it when I was 19 years old, immersed in the ‘White Album’ day and night.”
The film is created by Ronald Chammah through Les Films du Camélia, Ujică from Modern Electric Pictures, and Anamaria Antoci from Tangaj Production. The voices you hear are provided by Tommy McCabe, Thérèse Azzara, Shea Grant, and Sarah McCluskey. Minerva Pictures is responsible for the distribution of this production.
After completing a trilogy about the demise of Communism, which included “The Autobiography of Nicolae Ceaușescu,” Ujică felt drawn to explore a topic that was more deeply personal or emotionally resonant.
“Apart from events similar to the Cold War, the latter half of the 20th century was marked by the rise of popular culture and pop music. The 1960s, in particular, stand out as incredibly intriguing due to this phenomenon. The Beatles significantly shaped the emotional landscape of that era.”
Referencing their 1964 song in the title, he decided to limit familiar tunes in the film.
“The Beatles were extraordinary musicians, leading the pack in popular music. Their body of work is astonishing, surpassing that of groups like the Rolling Stones or the Beach Boys. It’s hard to find a match. The question then arises: how many hits did those bands have? There’s simply no comparison. However, obtaining the rights to their songs isn’t simple or inexpensive. This made me think: ‘Perhaps this could be a fresh way of honoring them?’ Instead of conducting another interview with Eric Clapton and having him reiterate their greatness,” he muses.
“The appeal of the Beatles lies in a unique tension between their absence and presence. When they performed live, what was heard wasn’t their music but rather exuberant cheers from the audience. Their true artistry was experienced when they were out of sight.”
They are ghosts – just like Ujică’s animated characters.
Initially, I considered casting young actors, but later reverted to my initial concept. These actors may seem appealing, but they lack depth. Instead, I aim to deliver an immersive experience rather than resorting to easy sentimentality from the past.
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2024-08-31 18:47