![post_page_cover](https://www.filmibee.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/REVIEW-Leda-3-1200x596.jpeg)
Leda | Film Threat
Apr 12, 2023
Leda has no dialogue in it. I don’t mean that in a silent movie way, with the dialogue showing up as interstitials. Screenwriters Wesley Pastorfield and Samuel Tressler IV have told their version of the ancient Greek myth with no spoken words or texting representing such. Instead, they turn the story into pure cinema, an experience that cannot be replicated in a different medium without severely altering the finished product. But does that mean it is interesting?
Directed by Tressler IV, the thriller is set in a nameless past. There are no horseless carriages to be found, but the costumes and art design seem to be a hodgepodge of the 16th-century through late 1800s styles. In this surreal, black-and-white land lives Leda (Adeline Thery), who is dealing with a tragedy. In her isolation, Leda replays the horrific events, which involve a scenic pond in soothing woods, a swan, sex, and pregnancy. As the days pass, Leda becomes unable to move past what happened, and it is driving her mad. A funeral procession, a hunting party, a baby, and nightmares all come into play as well.
“…a scenic pond in soothing woods, a swan, sex, and pregnancy.”
Recapping the narrative of Leda is beside the point, as this is not a film interested in a traditional arc or three-act story structure. Instead, Tressler IV wants to evoke feelings, good and bad, wow with the visuals and allow audiences to revel in Thery’s largely one-person show. On each of those fronts, the film delivers. Thery is compelling, her big, expressive eyes conveying much in just a glance. Andre Barros and Björn Magnusson’s haunting but melodic music also do their fair share. When the music is at its most striking, and Thery is on screen, the film is as gripping and engaging as any more conventionally told thriller.
But the real star is Nick Midwig’s cinematography. Floating eggs, quick flashes of swans, long-held shots of Leda staring in a mirror, and the hunting party on the move, are all captured. Each scene is captured majestically, crafting a tangible, fantastical world. The effects, all practical (I think), are also well-utilized, seamlessly integrating the more surreal elements without breaking the film’s spell. It’s all so magical and fascinating.
Leda is unlike anything else out there. It is a bold, dazzling cinematic experiment that is as heartbreaking as it is surreal. Thery is stunning, the music is brilliant, and the visuals are the best of the year (indie production or not). While Tressler IV’s approach might turn off more casual filmgoers, cinephiles have the chance to catch a film before its inevitable Criterion release.
For more information, visit the official Leda site.
Publisher: Source link
Katy Perry Addresses Dr. Luke Collab Backlash
“I am speaking from my own experience. When I speak about ‘Woman’s World,’ I speak about feeling so empowered now as a mother, as a woman, giving birth, creating life, creating another set of organs, a brain, a heart —…
Sep 7, 2024
Kane Brown to Receive the Country Champion Award at 2024 PCCAs
Beyoncé, Kane Brown & More: 2024 People's Choice Country Awards Nominations Are Here!There's no more "What Ifs" when it comes to this year's Country Champion Award recipient. Kane Brown will be honored for his passion for service and groundbreaking contributions…
Sep 7, 2024
Drew Starkey On Daniel Craig Sex Scenes In Queer
Drew Starkey On Daniel Craig Sex Scenes In Queer Following months of anticipation, the historical romance drama will finally premiere at the Venice Film Festival later today. And ahead of the festivities, 30-year-old Drew spoke with Variety about his biggest…
Sep 6, 2024
Inside Katy Perry’s Dramatic Path to Forever With Orlando Bloom
But even riding a peak of her career, she made all necessary attempts to prioritize her marriage. "I invited him time and time again, and I tried to come home as much as I possibly could," she said referencing her…
Sep 6, 2024