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6 Section 2 Chicago Tribuno, Tuesday, May 31, 1977 *Tempo EntertainmentJohn Gielgud (second from right) surrounded by his family. David Warner (loft). Burstyn. and Dirk Bogarde. In a lighter moment of Alain Resnais' 'Providence.BnSelf-centered intrigues form 'Providence'By Gene SiskelcriticfiLAI^r XBSNAJS U a fllmraoktr of groat reputation and few films, most r.otalily Hiroshima Mon Amour (19591 and Last Year at Maricnbad (1961). Both films shook up the cinema's language by paying no attention to traditional storytelling technique. Resnais altered time sequence and Jumped easily from reality to faniiwy in an effort to portray elates of mind rather than to tell atones.In ‘•Providence.” his first English language film. Resnais tells of a cynical old novelist writing his last fiction. Clive Lang-ham (John Gielgud In a fine performance) is n years old and very bitter. He » a widower. His wlfo committed suicide after learning she had terminal cancer.Clive Longhorn nlso Is bitter about Ills children. Claud (Dirk Itogardc) Is o sue-cessful prosecutor, an appropriate profession to Clive, who thinks his son always has Judged him ncgnlivcly and unfairly. Kevin (David Warner), tho other son. alter flirting with being an astronaut, is a poet. He doesn’t carry the Langham name because he literally Is a bastard, a fact that Clive Langham is only too eager lo announce.CLIVE LANGHAM Is not a happy man.Of course the shooting pains in his colon don't help matters. He expects to die at any moment. And so. during tho one long night of this movie, ho writes his last novel with particular venom. He writes about his family from his point of view. He writes to get even with them.He portrays his son Claud's marrtogo (to Ellen Burstyn) as a failure rcplele with extramarital offalrs. whereas Claud's real-life marriage is solid if dull. Clivo Lang* ham also Invents a scenario In which Claud murders Kevin. The particulars of tho Incident suggest Clive is merely transferring his guilt about his own extramarital affairs to Ctaud.The only way you can understand these motivations and reat-vrous-fanlasy relation-TRIBUNE MINI-REVIEWGrand delusion *#V» PROVIDENCE”ships Is to see all of Providence. Much of the truth of these people's lives Is revealed only In a day following-night concluding scene. The film Is tricky until you begin to understand CUve Langham’s anger.In discussing this film, director Resnais has said that ono of the questions it asks is: Are we what we arc able to be, or do wc become what others Judco us to be?” Tho answer to that seems fairly obvious. You become what others Judge you to be to the degree you care what others think.Most of ttie characters In Providence care a great deal what their relatives Chink of them. Yet they are afraid to admit that. Failing to make Uiat admission, they aro trapped in silent anger. CUve Langham expresses his anger in print; Claud reveals his anger In choked half-sentcnces.PROVIDENCE” h based en an originalscreenplay by David Mcrccr, who previously adapted tho script of tho wildly different comedy Morgan: A Suitable Caso for Treatment (19M). Thero Is a comic touch to Providence. We see images reflecting what old Langham Is writing, and every so often those images are rough drafts of Ideas the writer throws away. In other moments. the characters take on a life of their own that even the writer can't control.These laughs (actually they're smiles) help relieve the somber tone of a film that often is deadening with anger.FILM NOTE: An IlnlUn film, Padre,Padrone (My Father. My Master), directed by Paolo and Vittorio Taviani. has won the top prise at the 19th annual Cannes Film Festival. By all accounts it was a lackluster (estival, with a couplo of the most eagyriy awaited films boing withdrawn from competition at the last minute.American actress Shelley Duvall and Canada’s Monique Mercure shared tbo best actress award. Duvall plays a fastidious nursing home attendant In Robert Altman's dream film 3 Women. scheduled to open here Juno 10 at the Carnegie Theater.The best actor award went to Fernando Rcy for his role in Elisa Mia Vida. by the noted Spanish director Carlos Saura. American Norman Whltlicld won the musical score award for his soundtrack for Car Wash.Gene Siskd reviews the movie scene Monday. Wednesday, and Friday on Chan-net 2 Sews ot 10 p.m.
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