[psycho d]

The Princess and the Warrior (2000). I know this is not my typical fare. Maybe I just have a thing for Franka Potente. That said, this flick did not disappoint, not in the least. Yeah, it was slow, and perfectly so. It simply took its time, reveling in the imagery, and the magic, of the events as they unfolded. These events, taking a rather unbelievable and circuitous route, ring true in their essence, as if they could not have happened any other way, clinging to the notion of fate. A modern fairy tale come true, the mystery is not so much in the denouement but in the type of magic being created here: dark or light. It could have gone either way, creating a background tension that keeps this slow burner from ever feeling slow. The story itself seems a mish-mash of events that splendidly come together, random threads of existence whose meaning manifests in an obvious yet unforeseen fashion. Leads Franka Potente and Benno Furmann say so much with so little, generating characters that we strive to support even when they let us down. These were characters that could not have been more different, and destiny seemed to take a perverse interest in them. The direction was impressive, taking this slow story, punctuated by moments of heightened tension, and weaving it into a riveting experience. The score was spot on, always present to help the story, or emotional context, but silent when the action is best left to its own accord. The camera work was magnificent. From the opening shot we know that something special is about to occur, only to be outdone by that amazing shot at the end, a seemingly endless specter of cyclopean splendor. For a timely break from the grim theater usually frequented, the cinematic wizardry fashioned here will leave you breathless, and refreshingly determined to take on some more rugged affairs. Merci.
d