Movies and music are related in terms of taste – it fluctuates. But often you find yourself having a certain relation to certain genres / themes etc. in certain periods of your life. And for me, this of course this also goes with directors, or movie makers. Two of these have my deepest admiration these days: From USA, Darren Aronofsky [π, Requiem for a Dream] and Swedish Roy Andersson [Official site / Giliap, Songs From the Second Floor].

Darren Aronofsky’s vibe is impeccable. His style of going ‘up close’ reminds me of the ‘super-reality’ style of Paul Greengrass [Bloody Sunday, The Bourne Supremacy], whom I also admire a lot. It puts you, as a viewer, smack in the middle of what’s happening taking you on a journey inside people’s minds, dreams and hopes. It is like a constant super-closeup on his characters, which I like a lot. You sort of creep under their skin and experience their feelings and emotions. Unlike Greengrass, where the camera is acting like your eyes – as if you were present in the action, Aronofsky almost let you experience the story from within his characters’ minds. His stories are likewise: unrelentingly unforgiving and imaginative.

On the opposite side stands Andersson. His style resembles renaissance paintings more than moving images; showing a larger, more holistic context that is surrounding his characters. His movies are also more political in a broader sense, and every scene is open to interpretations that reaches far beyond what you see. With stark ‘naked’ scenes, almost without any camera movement, depraved of any unnecessary noise, he cuts right to the bone with almost unpleasant imagery that leaves you thinking, days or even weeks after watching his movies. His symbolism is both subtle and crude but is presented with a balance unmatched. The still camera forces you to watch, to take a stand. You can’t look away. It almost resembles theatre, but in a surrealistic setting that makes your eyes wander (and wonder). Genius.

Common denominator for these two directors? Imaginative. Provoking. Passionate. Empathic.

Both gentlemen have upcoming works: Aronofsky’s The Fountain and Andersson’s You, The Living

On this day...

... in 2004: Bush Fire