settima

religion

行者 [Jingang Jing / Walker] (Tsai Ming-liang, 2012)

Dec

8

बोधि

行者 (2012)

The monk (Kang-sheng Lee) walking Hong Kong. DP: Tsai Ming-liang.

A Buddhist theme for Bodhi Day.

“The reason why I wanted to do something like the Walker series is rooted in my obsession with the idea of Xuanzang, and the characteristics of the times he lived. There was no car, no train, no airplane, and no cell phone. He just walked.”

– Tsai Ming-liang, via

Kontrakt [The Contract] (Krzysztof Zanussi, 1980)

Jun

4

Coca-Cola

Kontrakt (1980)

Two middle-aged men in discussion with a woman, semi off-screen, holding a drink. There's food covered with a napkin and a wineglass in front of the men. Behind the men, the maid – a tense woman cradling many small Coca-Cola bottles – looks on. DP: Slawomir Idziak.

Rain (Lewis Milestone, 1932)

May

13

canned tamales

Rain (1932)

Sadie Thompson (Joan Crawford) looking for canned tamales in the pantry of the island's only convenience store. DP: Oliver T. Marsh.

“We seem to hear the winds of reform whistling down the chimney. Whereas the low hussy frolics off to buy her supper. Where do you keep your canned tamales, partner?”

– Sadie Thompson

L'amore (Roberto Rossellini, 1948)

Apr

22

alms

L'amore (1948)

Nannina (Anna Magnani) in “Il miracolo”, ascending a staircase while eating her alms. DP of this segment: Aldo Tonti; DPs “Una voce umana”: Robert Juillard & Otello Martelli.

“The madwoman has received your grace.”

– Nannina

Salesman (Albert + David Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin, 1969)

Mar

29

breakfast

Salesman (1969)

Bible salesmen enjoying breakfast at a soulless motel. DP: Albert Maysles.

Watched on Good Friday.

The World's Greatest Sinner (Timothy Carey, 1962)

Mar

1

eggs

The World's Greatest Sinner (1962)

Clarence “God” Hilliard (Timothy Carey) sitting at a round dinner table talking to his wife who's leaning against a counter holding a carton of eggs and crockery. DPs: Frank Grande, Robert Shelfow, Ray Dennis Steckler & Edgar G. Ulmer.

“Let's be different. Let's not hate anyone.”

– Clarence “God” Hilliard

Иконостасът [Ikonostasat / The Icon Stand] (Christo Christov + Todor Dinov, 1969)

Feb

5

apples

Иконостасът (1969)

A closeup of woman's hand moving an apple. The black-and-white photography is deliberately out of focus. DP: Atanas Tasev.

L'udienza [The Audience] (Marco Ferreri, 1972)

Nov

14

L'udienza (1972)

Amedeo (Enzo Jannacci), a young man with heavy rimmed glasses wrapped in heavy, flowery drapes as if it's a toga, eating late at night. There's an opened can on one of his plates. A sad looking stuffed toy dog hangs out. DP: Mario Vulpiani.

Matka Joanna od Aniolów [Mother Joan of the Angels] (Jerzy Kawalerowicz, 1961)

Nov

9

Chaos Never Dies Day

Matka Joanna od Aniolów (1961)

A possessed nun in white spinning on her axis among her sisters. Black clad priests in the background observe the scene. DP: Jerzy Wójcik.

Four years after the tragic events at Loudun. Mother superior, the titular Mother Joan, is still possessed by the Devil and has slowly pulled in the other sisters. A priest, the fourth one, is send to the convent to exorcise the demons who at this point have possessed all but one sister. Chaos ensues.

“If one can't be saint, it's better to be damned.”

– Mother Joan of the Angels

Ostia [A Violent Life] (Sergio Citti, 1970)

Sep

11

supper

Ostia (1970)

A group of vulgar looking people eating outdoors at a very long table in front of an old crumbing wall at a very long table. The scene is a re-enactment of Da Vinci's Il Cenacolo / Last Supper. DP: Mario Mancini.