In a Savage Land

[sewellme]

Another one I'd love to see in full length instead of tube.
I know Da' is lurking on eBay so I wonder if he's checkin out some DVDs for my Christmas surprise?

Hmmm......if ever Rufus got a chance to dress up just like the tribe people then?

[kissmekate]

Having given up hope of finding a Region 2 DVD any time soon, I've now watched IASL on youtube.

The mellow lighting and the sepia tint took a bit of getting used to, but it fits the movie's atmosphere quite well. Just a pity that at least on youtube the picture is a bit blurry.

Now for the movie itself ... at first I wasn't too sure if I'd really like Mick in his slight ambivalence, but when he didn't turn out to be the greedy pearl trader exploiting the natives, he won me over quickly. For such a rugged kind of guy, he's got an amazing ability for compassion. I loved the way he treated Evelyn after her husband's death, just offering to be there if she needed him but not intruding on her with unwanted advice or attempts to do what he might have thought was best for her. Simply waiting until she came out of the cage.

Generally, Rufus portrays Mick as a very sensitive person underneath a slightly rough shell, perhaps a little bit like the pearls he's trading, precious inside their hard casing. Again I simply had to admire his talent for showing so much emotion through the slightest tilt of the head or gesture of his beautiful hands.

Philip and Evelyn's relationship was bound to veer off track - I thought so already when she made him go down on his knees at the beginning, suspecting that he might not be ready to put up with such a strong and emancipated woman in the long run. At first I wasn't quite satisfied with Philip's death, that seemed to come in a bit too handy, but then, at least she didn't have to commit adultery

How they are coming closer to each other gradually is grand to watch. All the little gestures, the interruption when he examines her hand, the fumbling with her sleeves when they are about to make love, makes things so believable. Much better than any pompous drama with schmaltzy violins playing.

When Evelyn finally left the island, I waited for her to jump off the ship (but that would have been too dramatic in the context of this rather quiet film - although it has lots of emotion, there's no room for overblown drama). I was so sad for her when her search of Mick only led to dead ends and then finally back to the island to find the grave in the forest. That had me sobbing, too.

When she went back home to embark on her book presentation circuit, I was hoping that the death message would be wrong but didn't really expect it to be. And then this little envelope with the pearl, bringing back hope.

And then the scene at the station, everything empty at first and then she turns around, her eyes widening, and it hit me as hard in the pit of my stomach as it must have hit Evelyn to see him standing there, looking lost in the rain with one leg gone and the strangely neat haircut (I only realized that he was in uniform when I read your postings ...) As if wilful, lively Mick with his devil-may-care attitude was just a distant memory.

I didn't miss the big gestures of reunion, I thought the careful, loving hand on his cheek captured the feeling of this moment perfectly. She sees him again, having grieved for his apparent death, but it is no moment of total blissful joy and surprise as it is immediately obvious that he has suffered a terrible (war?) injury and, from the look of him, some bad things that must have changed just about everything in his life. Hurling herself at him, shrieking and kissing, just would neither have been appropriate (not only for fear to knock him over) nor credible. The stroking of his cheek is the perfect gesture at this point, expressing both her shock at recognizing his condition, happiness at seeing him again and the wish she must feel to comfort and reassure him.

I like the fact that the open ending gives much food for thought and imagination. I'm sure they will have made their way through life together somehow, for Evelyn found the golden ring within her shell that day on the beach, and to me, the reason why she cites the scent of a freshly opened shell as the memory she wants to keep until the very end is that it was the beginning of something beautiful and lasting.´

(And now I'll have to watch the final scene for the third time in a row, I guess ...)

By the way, it's really a pity that all the pics from the film are gone from the earlier pages of the thread *sniff*

EDIT: OMG, what a gush ... the movie must have impressed much more than I had thought likely.

And if anyone should see a Region 2 DVD advertised, kindly remember me

[anyother]

So you liked me in that movie, did you?


Kissmekate, I really like your review. I felt much the same about this movie.

The scene in which all the small boats approach the beach and you can see Mick standing on one of them and you slowly get to see his, first his silhouette and finally the look on his face is one of my favourites.

I downloaded it from a torrent site, but my copy's bound to be as blurry as yours (otherwise I'd make a couple of nice screencaps), and I look forward to watching it on dvd. Pity the dvd's not available on amazon uk right now.

[kissmekate]

Thanks, anyother! *blush* And Rufus - I LOVED you in that movie!

Yes, the boats scene was nice too ... (like just about all those with Mick in them ).

[kissmekate]

Just found a very nice video on the tube with beautiful pics from IASL (probably many of you have already seen it, sorry if we had it already): click. (The real thing starts at about 0:25.)

[anyother]

I see you changed your avatar - Mick has really gotten into you, hasn't he?

[rueful]

Kissmekate, what a great review of IASL. It is really a beautiful film, and you captured many of the reasons why I loved it. If you read the earlier pages in this thread, you know we had some debates about the meaning of the ending (which I don't want to rekindle), but I totally agree with your assessment of her reaction to him. I didn't find their quiet reunion at all unrealistic or unnatural.

Thanks for sharing your opinions!

[kissmekate]

rueful, thanks! Actually it was your discussion of the ending that made me think about it even more than I would have done anyway My thoughts keep sneaking back to the film over and over.

anyother, you're sooo right ... Mick was very quick to take over my heart, too (it's slowly getting crowded in there with all the wonderful characters Rufus has played ...)

[anyother]

I watched In a savage land again yesterday, this time with my husband on the sofa (burned the copy I downloaded to dvd, as the dvd is so hard to find/expensive). He was very impressed. When I asked him what he expected at the start of the movie, he said; "Well, anthropology is very interesting." Yeah right - he's never before shown any interest in anthropology. It must have been Maya Stange.

This movie is more and more turning into my favourite.

[sewellme]

Dec 23, 2010 12:10:54 GMT kissmekate said:

Rufus portrays Mick as a very sensitive person underneath a slightly rough shell, perhaps a little bit like the pearls he's trading, precious inside their hard casing. Again I simply had to admire his talent for showing so much emotion through the slightest tilt of the head or gesture of his beautiful hands.

Indeed.....

Falling in love all over again with some one you already love, that's what this one is for me.
Sometimes after a movie I'd say "Yep, that's Rufus for you!" but then there are "Oh not again...." for his brilliant acting. So brilliant, I thought if such Mick person exists??
Maya deserves credit too!! I love the interaction of her and the women on the shore about how pregnancy "really" happened.....imagine if it's true??? makes me think wisely before plunging in to the water!!
I've seen bits and pieces on youTube before and I shouldn't take it for granted because in a full length DVD, it turned away my blurry thought of it 360.

I love the setting, the 2 characters and the flow of the story; they all sit well in my stomach. Perhaps because of the happy ending for his character? maybe it does add to my healthier digestion.
KMK had covered the bases of my thought on this one (as always....thank you )
"I like the fact that the open ending gives much food for thought and imagination." -Her percise quote and I agree of the final scene is worth rewinding that I myself did so.

His interview; just love watching him ripping little stripe of that paper cup and the leg swinging.....and Maya's; a very well description of Rufus, it makes me wonder if he'd ever take a Gallup test, Includer will be one of his top 5 strength?? because it seemed like on most if not all casts and crews takes on Rufus, they all SINCERELY spoke highly of him where they could just say something nice with a very well acted / rehearsed line just to be polite...and I don't see that.

I'm taking Mick with me for now

[numbat]

Ladies, i've read all your wonderful reviews of IASL and i hope you don't think i'm ignoring you by not getting involved. It's just that i've written so much about this, that i don't think any of you want to read my thoughts over and over again!!

In fact, at times i have no words. It seems the more i watch it (and i've watched it a lot!!) the less i have to say. Because it is so beautiful and so moving and so poignant and so bittersweet and so romantic and Mick is so........ Mick.

But i've enjoyed what you've had to say and i would really encourage any Rufus fan to acquire the DVD and watch nicole's beautiful youtube clip that she made for us last year;

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIAakFdd99c

"What will you take with you into the dark......"

[anyother]

Jan 16, 2011 8:31:13 GMT numbat said:

In fact, at times i have no words. It seems the more i watch it (and i've watched it a lot!!) the less i have to say. Because it is so beautiful and so moving and so poignant and so bittersweet and so romantic and Mick is so........ Mick.

Now THAT is what I call a review! I read some of your earlier thoughts on IASL, but this sums it up nicely.

[kygal]

Certainly one of my favorite Rufus movies!

[kissmekate]

Jan 15, 2011 20:42:52 GMT sewellme said:

I agree of the final scene is worth rewinding that I myself did so.

It's so beautiful and heartbreaking again and again and again *sigh* And Mick is simply wonderful. I want one too.

And I so want the DVD and it's nowhere to get in Region 2

Haven't seen the interview with Maya yet (is it on youtube?) I've also noticed that everybody seems to agree that Rufus is wonderful to work with and puts people at ease

[sewellme]

Maya's interview was included in the DVD I got, not sure if there's one on youTube. I can feel her descriptions of who Rufus is about; she referred to him as an angel
Would love to have him as a brother, taking care all of the jerks for me......stare 'em down! that's all he has to do....

I hope there's region 2 available soon, KMK. I did some search and have no luck so far.....no quitter!!!