Renata Litvinova is something of a pop culture icon in Russia. With her kind of old-school charm and grace, she has done everything from acting to writing novels to directing two films. The Goddess: How I Fell In Love, was her debut feature, and is an odd gem of a film, one that has a tendency to polarize viewers. In The Goddess, Litvinova plays Faina, an eccentric detective (see. Dale Cooper) whose unorthodox methods have earned her both admiration and contempt among her colleagues. Faina's partner is hopelessly in love with her, but Faina is either aloof, uninterested, or afraid to reciprocate. The film starts off with an investigation into the disappearance of a little girl, but then dives into more abstract territory, and becomes significantly darker all while maintaining a kind of pastel pop-art style. But there is something very muted about The Goddess, almost distant and without passion. Litvinova has cited Kira Muratova, with whom she acted in several films for, as an influence on her directorial style, but I have yet to see a film by Muratova to compare this to. I do wonder, though, if Litvinova is trying to copy her mentor, or if she is just using certain elements. The soundtrack, which is a mix of Nick Cave, some Russian pop, and a kind of electronic lounge music gives the film an edge, but the various pieces never came together for me. But Litvinova's sincerity and belief in the material keeps things going. Definitely an odd film, and a hard one to earnestly recommend, but fascinating nevertheless.
Comments
Post a Comment