Seeing movies

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Nothing like seeing a good movie helps me so much in understanding what life should be, should have been for me. If I am moved by the narrative, I detach for a brief time from my dreamlike unsubstantial everyday experience. Even if the movie is dramatic (and I see more or less only dramatic films), I receive two strong inputs. One is of this kind: “oh no, no: how my life is different from what it should have been!” But the second input is one of anger, and I think this a healthy invigorating feeling: I think the happy end is only deceiving, mystifying, There can be no happy end in this kind of society. The only possible happy end is that of becoming aware of the tragedy which is surrounding us and of the link that ties you and this tragedy. Bliss should be such as to face all devitalizing tendencies and win over them. We are weak and we should know well our weaknesses.
I don’t think this is simple voyeurism.

I don’t think this is simple voyeurism.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^- what do you mean by that?

and what is it that you "see" when watching movies?

I think that movies are meant to entertain/enlighten. often the effect that they have on the individual is based upon thier own experiences.

i used to get "wrapped up" in movies/telly but i no longer allow myself to do this. most often my mind drifts when i'm watching something.

what is it that you "get" from watching movies?

Voyeurism is substitute real life with a surrogate life, with overidentification. I understand that most people I know look for entertainment and don’t like a director like Gus van Sant (I have seen Elephant at least two times), Altman or the late Cassavetes. Among European directors I like Bresson, Alain Tanner (not very well known for his best films, like Messidor and Charles alive or dead). Among young filmmakers I would venture that the Belgian Dardennes are now the greatest heirs of Robert Bresson. The trilogy of Apu of the Indian late Ray is of an absolute beauty. But I am talking of my experience and of my life. I am a movie addict who looks in movies a key for understanding my life.
For the same reason why I watch only dramatic films, I never read crime fiction or light fiction.

oh, ok. that's a very interesting point. I have (throughout my life) watched movies/television and i don't know that it has had such a major impact on my life. At this time though, i will take your advice? or whathaveyou and pay closer mind to the movies that i watch, and to the characters in them. It should be quite a lesson. Also, i'm interested in foreign films, but never have access to them. I've heard of Gus Van Zandt? I've watched something of his, did he direct the Kurt Cobain film (i forget what it was called) and what else has he done? i love the movie Amelie, and I've thought that maybe her character had Aspergers, but she makes eye contact and seems to understand social cues and whatnot. But she is, nevertheless, still an outcast, and I can relate to that.

Gus Van Sant film on Kurt Kobain is “Last days”, with very good pieces in it. I like also very much Buster Keaton Harold Lloyd and Jacques Tati (but are they not all outcasts, or misplaced persons?).