Through drastically changed images in which nature was losing its density and unity. This is how Kirsanoff described the intension of the film. I, however, simply say that it’s the story of someone spending the day in lalaland.
This is a tough rate for me because as I watched this short I found myself constantly appreciating small things about the films craft, but that’s it, just appreciating. I couldn’t get invested into anything it was trying to portray, nothing was evoked and I have a theories as to why.
The first thing I noticed as soon the grey skies entered frame was the music. Film of this era always has this kind music, the same feeling to them, and personally, I don’t like it. It feels mismatched, all these somber and dreamlike frames are being played with these high notes that just make me think of stuff completely irrelevant emotionally which lessens the impact of what’s being shown. Now, this is a clear personal issue that isn’t the films’ fault. I’m sure it’s because of how overtime these old films and that kind of music have been portrayed in recent media.
The editing or montage for this film, just didn’t hit. Like I briefly mentioned earlier, the technical side of this is great for its time. There are moments of her dissociating while looking out to the lake that I thought was brilliantly made clear through lens. I could appreciate little techniques like that because it was the story of someone just daydreaming and I’ve had many of those days myself. I noticed similarities to the state of mind between my days and this due to great creative use of the camera. Yet, when it’s all stitched together, I was left feeling . . . nothing. And as of right now I don’t have much for an answer as to why, just leads.
I’ll leave it there for now and as always leave everyone with my letterboxd review because why not.
Autumn Mists