Run Lola Run is one of my favorite movies so I committed to watching all of Tom Tykwer’s movies. He hasn’t made that many, but have I kept that promise? Sadly, no. My only excuse is that the majority of his movies are only available on DVD, and if a movie isn’t available at no additional cost instantly, the chances of my getting around to it decrease precipitously. Side note: it didn’t help that I didn’t like The International.
Fortunately, I finally got around to seeing Heaven before it was no longer available instantly on Netflix and absolutely adored it. I knew that I would love Heaven because I had no idea what was going to happen next as I watched it. Every scene was a surprise, a revelation. I think that the less you know about Heaven, the more you will enjoy it. Suffice it to say, Blanchett’s character opening scenes are surprising, but shockingly realistic. Heaven constantly had me shifting my views on certain characters and interpretation of unfolding events, and I really had to pay attention to every moment. Heaven later shows the deeper meaning of things that seemed like nothing before such as a cop talking to his little brother about school and the opening virtual lesson scene. Many pivotal scenes are caused by or nearly interrupted by the casual daily routine of ordinary people. Life goes on even in the midst of drama. Heaven is beautifully shot and somehow balances the idea of the ordinary, the simultaneous celebratory and mournful nature of life by constantly asking how should you live and unflinchingly dismisses intention in the face of reality. Heaven rewards careful and attentive viewers so I would suggest that you give it your complete attention and not attempt to multitask.
Heaven is an incredibly strange film. Heaven is described as an Italian movie, but it stars Australian actress Cate Blanchett and American actor Giovanni Ribisi. In our homeland, Ribisi rarely gets a chance to show his range and often plays immature, shady characters going as far back as The X-Files. I was surprised that he had the chops to hold his own on the screen with Blanchett, and both can act while speaking Italian!
I did NOT know until after watching Heaven that Krzysztof Kieślowski wrote Heaven and intended for it to be a trilogy, but he died before he could film it. Noooooooooo! I have not watched Kieślowski’s films since college, but he is amazing. Congratulations to Twyker for having the guts to take over for a cinematic genius. Now I have to watch the second in the trilogy, L’Enfer or Hell, and Purgatory was never made.
I loved Heaven and highly recommend that you not let the subtitles deter you from watching it.