|
With two flops he needed a commercial success, so returned to classical composers with Mahler
in 1974. The film is about sacrifice and creativity- Mahler
has to sacrifice his religion and convert to Christianity, Alma his wif3
sacrifices her musical career. A train journey provides a rite of
passage,
starting with a dream sequence which is Russell at his best and most visual.
Waking Mahler says to Alma "You were part of a dream" / "A
pebble I suppose" / No, you were a living creature struggling to be
born" / "At last you've noticed". Early indication of Alma's state
of mind.
Mahler
remembers episodes from his life, and on the
train itself he confronts jubilant crowds
(success), the gutter press (sensationalism), his
wife's lovers (infidelity), and the doctor (mortality).
A beautiful film mixing true emotion, the
death of Mahler's children, with dancing Nazis.
The memories of Mahler's childhood are good and bring out
the brutality of Mahler's father, but could be shortened, with the
Jewish scenes a bit too kosher.
Mahler has to convert
from Judaism to Christianity to keep working. The scene from
his childhood learning to swim presages the laer baptism of
Christianity.
The film cost just over 150,000 pounds and was
shot in seven weeks. The American version was shortened by 30
minutes, mainly by removing the Cosima Wagner sequence.
|
