Reviewer:
wdanthemanw
from Geneva, Switzerland writes:
British directors Micha l Powell and Emeric Pressburger's BLACK NARCISSUS
is one of the 50 most important movies ever presented. Shot right after
WWII, in the London studios, it had the almost impossible task to bring
the audience into the middle of the Himalaya mountains, in an ancient palast
given to the Order of Mary by the Maharadjah of this region.
As soon as the action takes place in this lost spot, you're going to be
shuffled by the howling wind that never stops and the cinematography in
Technicolor of Jack Cardiff. The restoration of the images by Criterion
is perfect and this copy is without a single doubt the definitive presentation
of BLACK NARCISSUS for home movies addicts.
"Black Narcissus" is the name of an european scent innocently brought into
the nunnery by the son of the Radjah. The scent, the 17 years old Jean Simmons,
the clear air and water of the Himalaya will soon affect the women who,
in the solitude of their cells, are fighting against the demons of jealousy,
souvenirs of their past and carnal pulsions. Observe how David Farrar, the
british eye for the country, is literally undressed by Micha l Powell visit
after visit. His last visit to the nunnery, in the middle of the night,
with only a short on will set on fire Kathleen Byron, the weakest of the
nuns. The last 15 minutes of BLACK NARCISSUS are a model of suspense and
a lesson of cinema given by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.
Bonus features include a commentary recorded in 1988 by Michael Powell (yes!)
and his longtime admirer Martin Scorsese, a trailer and photographies of
deleted scenes.
A DVD that should be in your library.
