Claes Andreasson of Swedish National Public Radio delivers a subtle knockout with this regulation-segment snapshot of Wim Wenders (Wings of Desire; Far Away, So Close). Wenders is struggling to find a US distributor for his new film, Land of Plenty, but before you know that, Andreasson has deftly unspooled some of the movie's audio, and you're already wondering when you can see it.
The plot of a paranoid, hermetic America twines with the saga of Wenders' struggle to open our eyes to something beyond the Hollywood formula. Land of Plenty mixes themes of liberalism and Christianity, and that doesn't fit preconceived notions. Neither does this piece ? German-born Wenders is critical of Europeans and expresses his love, and concern, for America. All delivered in an expertly mixed five minutes of full sound with lovely attention to musical detail.
All the elements are here ? public radio listeners love Indie cinema, Wenders, Ry Cooder, and international story lines. Andreasson places them perfectly into an aural bonsai garden to ponder.
[Note: PDs should explore Claes Andreasson's additional two segments on Wenders as well.]
Piece is very nicely done - the dreamy, soundrich clips for the film provide an effective background.
I've seen Land of Plenty. It's an interesting film, even beautiful, touching - from the director of Wings of Desire, Paris, Texas, to name two that so many people in the US have loved - it is dead accessible - but unlike Farenheit 911, fascinatingly ambiguous and generous to more than one point of view - the news that Wenders can't get a distributor to take it on is a bit of a shock to me. It's because they can't pigeonhole it - or because of fear? That's not the America I lived in until I was 40. I'm wondering whether stations will treat this piece the way the distributors are treating the film (and their audiences). Wake up, people!
Comments for Wim Wenders; Land of Plenty
Produced by Claes Andreasson
Other pieces by Claes Andreasson
Rating Summary
2 comments
Geo Beach
Posted on July 20, 2005 at 06:05 PM | Permalink
Review of Wim Wenders; Land of Plenty
The plot of a paranoid, hermetic America twines with the saga of Wenders' struggle to open our eyes to something beyond the Hollywood formula. Land of Plenty mixes themes of liberalism and Christianity, and that doesn't fit preconceived notions. Neither does this piece ? German-born Wenders is critical of Europeans and expresses his love, and concern, for America. All delivered in an expertly mixed five minutes of full sound with lovely attention to musical detail.
All the elements are here ? public radio listeners love Indie cinema, Wenders, Ry Cooder, and international story lines. Andreasson places them perfectly into an aural bonsai garden to ponder.
[Note: PDs should explore Claes Andreasson's additional two segments on Wenders as well.]
Marjorie Van Halteren
Posted on May 03, 2005 at 01:56 AM | Permalink
Review of Wim Wenders; Land of Plenty
Piece is very nicely done - the dreamy, soundrich clips for the film provide an effective background.
I've seen Land of Plenty. It's an interesting film, even beautiful, touching - from the director of Wings of Desire, Paris, Texas, to name two that so many people in the US have loved - it is dead accessible - but unlike Farenheit 911, fascinatingly ambiguous and generous to more than one point of view - the news that Wenders can't get a distributor to take it on is a bit of a shock to me. It's because they can't pigeonhole it - or because of fear? That's not the America I lived in until I was 40. I'm wondering whether stations will treat this piece the way the distributors are treating the film (and their audiences). Wake up, people!