settima

@settima@zirk.us

Belle (André Delvaux, 1973)

Nov

28

Belle (1973)

Belle (Adriana Bogdan) in front of her cabin on the moors. DPs: Ghislain Cloquet & Charles Van Damme.

Un comisar acuză [A Police Inspector Calls] (Sergiu Nicolaescu, 1974)

Nov

26

1940

Un comisar acuză (1974)

DP: Alexandru David.

Takes place on the night of November 26-27, 1940.

“Mister Moldovan, this is not for the first time that a criminal case is entrusted to you. It is precisely your political objectivity that made us choose you.”

– Alexandru Dincă

La polizia ringrazia [Execution Squad / The Law Enforcers] (Steno, 1972)

Nov

23

La polizia ringrazia (1972)

Sandra (Mariangela Melato) and Francesco Bettarini (Franco Fabrizi). DP: Riccardo Pallottini.

Report (Bruce Conner, 1967)

Nov

23

1963

Report  (1967)

Television footage of JFK's state funeral with the caption “November 23, 1963”, superimposed over it.

Mingus: Charlie Mingus 1968 [Mingus / Mingus In Greenwich Village] (Thomas Reichman, 1968)

Nov

22

1968

Mingus: Charlie Mingus 1968 (1968)

Charles Mingus and Carolyn sharing an intimate father/daughter moment in their studio. DPs: Lee Osborne & Michael Wadleigh.

“I pledge allegiance to the flag–the white flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of America. When they say “black” or “negro,” it means you’re not an American. I pledge allegiance to your flag. Not that I have to, but just for the hell of it I pledge allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. The white flag, with no stripes, no stars. It is a prestige badge worn by a profitable minority.”

– Charles Mingus

Mix-Up ou Meli-melo (Françoise Romand, 1986)

Nov

21

Mix-Up ou Meli-melo (1986)

One of the daughters, here as a child, with one of their mothers. DP: Emile Navarro.

A heartfelt reunion scene*

“Oh, it's you.”

– Margaret Wheeler, welcoming the viewers to this curious retelling of her life's events

Through an unexplained muddle, the Wheeler and the Rylatt girls were mixed up at the maternity ward. One of the mothers, Mrs Wheeler, had a hunch something was off. Her girl was suspiciously long and skinny, unlike the one that was entrusted to her. Over the years and to Mrs Rylatt's increasing chagrin, Mrs Wheeler kept in touch with that woman from the maternity ward. And was proven to be correct. This film is one breezy yet tense reunion scene. Heartwarming, awkward, and – like all that's nostalgia – slightly surreal.

 

* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for November is, again, not date-based, but follows a sloppy schmaltzy all-American Thanksgiving-y narrative. Trying to make it work my way.

A Face in the Crowd (Elia Kazan, 1957)

Nov

21

1956

A Face in the Crowd (1957)

Variety blares L. R.'S BLOOPER TOPS UNK DON'S. It's Wednesday, November 21, 1956. DPs: Gayne Rescher & Harry Stradling Sr..

“I'm not just an entertainer. I'm an influence, a wielder of opinion, a force… a force!”

– Lonesome Rhodes

Ciao Manhattan (John Palmer + David Weisman, 1972)

Nov

21

1971

spoiler warning: click to toggle image Ciao Manhattan (1972)
spoiler warning: click to read

A newspaper, partially obscured blares “[…], Andy's Star of '65, Is Dead at 28”. The article mentions she (Edie/Susan) died “a week ago today”, making the newspaper's date November 21. DPs: John Palmer & Kjell Rostad.

“It's sort of like a mockery, in a way, of reality, because they think everything is smiles and sweetness and flowers, when there is something bitter to taste. And to pretend there isn't is foolish.”

– Susan

München-Berlin Wanderung [Walking from Munich to Berlin] (Oskar Fischinger, 1927)

Nov

20

München-Berlin Wanderung (1927)

A bunch of Buben take a moment to pose between troublemaking. DP: Oskar Fischinger.

A journey or road trip*

 

Four weeks in four minutes, spanning decades in its disruptive form.

 

* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for November is, again, not date-based, but follows a sloppy schmaltzy all-American Thanksgiving-y narrative. Trying to make it work my way.

20 de noviembre de 1936 ¿Te acuerdas de esta fecha, compañero? [20th of November] (1937)

Nov

20

1936

20 de noviembre de 1936 ¿Te acuerdas de esta fecha, compañero? (1937)

Soldiers in silhouette. Disclaimer: I am not 100% sure this still is from the correct film. DP: anonymous.

A documentary made by the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo in honour of anarchist Buenaventura Durruti, who was murdered on November 20, 1936.

“Fascism is not to be debated, it is to be destroyed.”

– Buenaventura Durruti