PARADISE Alt_Cinema

Michael Almereyda is best known for his hip update of HAMLET, with Ethan Hawke , and his black-and-white vampire film NADJA PARADISE continues his recent for into documentary that began with WILLIAM EGGLESTON IN THE REAL WORLD. Like a ll of Almereyda’s films, PARADISE is a lyrical , melancholy journey that reflects on the nature of creativity, and on what it means to be beautiful or exceptional in the world. It is an intricately arranged journal of Almereyda ‘s own travels. Each section of the film (none longer than a few minutes) is introduced by the name of the city where the action takes place. In long, uninterrupted takes, Almereyda introduces us to acquaintances , friends, children of friends and total strangers as they do everyday tasks: flying planes , watching birds , performing music, conducting funeral services. Some of these people ore marginal and eccentric. Some, like Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth and Elina Lowensohn, are performers associated with Almereyda’s previous work . Toward the end , we see one of the most admired and reclusive directors in the world at his everyday job of making films Working in the diary tradition associated with Chris Marker and Jonas Mekas, Almereyda has constructed a synthesis of documentary reality and poetic atmosphere.