Warm Water under a Red Bridge, The Conformist, & Absence of Malice

Warm Water under a Red Bridge has all the story qualities and archetypes to be a part of modern mythology. Plus, it has a woman "vent"ing a lot. I'm not really sure what the water is supposed to be, but I'm also not entirely sure that it's supposed to matter. It's just one of those strange aspects that gods have in mythology, like Zeus's desire to turn into animals to have sex with women. The sort of hero's journey that Yosuke goes on, first searching for a treasure, then dealing with a goddess who may or may not be benign in intent, along with the fishing, echoes Greek myths like Circe and Medea. I know that there is probably some Japanese myth of a similar story, but I have little to no familiarity with Japanese myths.

The Conformist is a very good looking film. Everything about it is gorgeous. And it's probably the best Bertolucci film I've seen so far. I didn't realize it was told in non-chronological order for a little while in, and then it took me a little longer to figure out the plot. However, ignoring everything, Trintignant is so very good as the conformist that the fact that it was beautiful and a great plot doesn't entirely matter. Definitely a must see, but why the hell it isn't on DVD yet confuses me.

Absence of Malice is an interesting look at freedom of the press and journalistic ethics. Good central performances from Sally Field and Paul Newman, and supporting performances from Bob Balaban and Wilford Brimley. Nothing too great about it, nothing bad about it, just a solid little film.