project film school

pfs meeting 7/17/07 : 3 women (directed by robert altman)

"the narrative is not only present, it is central to the film's impact. not that altman was hoping a conventional story would somehow emerge from the indefinite notions he had when principal photography began. "i'm trying to reach toward a picture that's totally emotional," he once told a journalist, "not narrative or intellectual, where an audience walks out and they can't say anything about it except what they feel." 3 women doesn't quite match that ambition, but no altman movie comes closer." - david sterritt


this nicely sums up how i felt after watching the movie that robert altman claims to have dreamt up while his wife lay ill in the hospital. watching 3 women was simply put "an experience"and not one that is easily summed up in plot summary or direct criticism.

this film marked the first time in quite some time that a group of us got together to hold an official project film school : and it was interesting to hear the differing opinions on altman's dreamy look at personality theft and women in general.

many i think came up on the side of not buying that this was a serious attempt by altman to explore anything - citing a general annoyance with the characters and an idea that altman had created this film simply to make fun of his audience.

dana expressed a different sentiment towards the film:

"i feel like this movie has to be watched many times to even observe every nuance and detail, which is something we discussed post movie last night. i didn't pick up on the dresses getting caught in the car door...and i am sure there are a whole lot of other reoccurring moments and minute details that require several viewings to notice (let alone conclude to their significance). there is certainly a kind of kafka-esque factor to the first half, where details are focused on so acutely, but they are details without explanation of why or a purpose. when thinking about the first half, i realized the film really is cut into two halves--and the first half's sterility juxtaposes to the surrealness of the "dream" (and also pinky's other self) that dominates the second half of the movie."

after the film had ended and the pfs troop had gone home, i sat down to listen to the first half of altman's commentary. beyond claiming that the film was indeed inspired from a dream he had that featured shelley duvall and sissy spacek, he claims that most events in the film (like millie's dress getting caught in the car door) i am always somewhat hesitant to believe the director's that claim everything was improvised and happy accidents. espcecially in a film like this where the women have names that are mirrored (millie, willie) and such visual attention is brought to very specific things time and time again.

but who knows - only he i suppose.

"my ideal film would be a painting with music" - robert altman