Friday 25 November 2011

'They Shoot Horses, Dont they?' 1969


I stumbled upon this film when looking at lists of Academy award films and I’m so happy I found it. The movie was nominated for 9 Academy Awards. It won one award for best supporting actor

 
Set during the Great Depression, people would compete in marathon dances where they would dance constantly for days. The last remaining couple won the prize money

Some parts were cruelly hard to watch. The desperation and futility of the depression is shown through the endless plight of the marathon dancers; weak and exhausted and heading for an empty prize they continue dancing. 


Young Jane Fonda is beautiful, with her svelte physique and frazzled curls. Entertaining no notions of happy endings; Her response to the world is bitter, cynical yet highly realistic. It should’ve taken more time for me to warm to her character, yet I felt a fondness after the first glimpse of her in the queue.
Michael Sarrazin played Robert. Poor hopeless Robert. with his beautiful eyes and composed nature

Watching the film is an experience in itself: it is agonizing, deeply perceptive, exhausting and heartbreaking- I loved this film 


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