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Nineteen Nineteen (1984)

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6 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

For Sophie (Schell), the past is literally a foreign country; when she flies from New York to Vienna to see Alexander Scherbatov (Scofield), it is to explore that forgotten territory. For in 1919 they were both patients of Dr Freud. Together they dredge their memories, and map out not only the confessions of the couch, but also the huge historical shifts that separated them; like Freud himself, they were victims of the Nazi arrival. The film operates in much the same way as the talking cure itself; Freud's skilful probings are heard (Finlay's voice) though he is never seen; and the film makes sense of the past by the same shifting, organic, inexplicable process. A sensitive, interior film, with all the restorative power that Freud must have hoped for. CPea.

Author: CPea

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

Pierre-André D said...

Posted on Nov 25 2009 16:46 Sorry. It is not feasible. I live in Canada. I can't wait to see the day the film comes out. In the meantime, I've just ordered the book.

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Pierre-André D said...

Posted on Nov 25 2009 16:17 Hello C & H
I am (was) not even aware of some "thing" called BFI. Thanks for signalling it to me. I'll explore what they're about and get back to you. If at all possible, then my answer would be YES.

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coach & horses said...

Posted on Nov 25 2009 13:34 Good news! I just rechecked the BFI website and they are now offering 35mm and 16mm copies of 1919 for hire. They must have had it all the time but now it can viewed at a private viewing at BFI on London's South Bank or for £90 plus for film society screening. Want to join for private viewing at BFI - split cost maybe?

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Pierre-André D said...

Posted on Nov 24 2009 18:55 I was surprised, to say the least, when I learned that Michael Ignatieff - currently leader of the Canadian federal Liberal Party - is co-author in this film's scenario. I was able to reach him through his party's website, and he told me he himself does not own a copy of the film...! Now when will this great production see the light of day on DVD?

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Coach & horses said...

Posted on Nov 24 2009 16:13 Agreed. There have been so few really great and original Brit films in the last 20 years so why does this one not get aired on TV, cinema, DVD etc.....even the BFI doesn't have a copy. How do we lobby Channel 4 who made it?

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Pierre-André D said...

Posted on Aug 31 2008 19:14 This film is so good that Hollywood should hate it. It is among my top 10 movies of all time. I simply cannot get it, that no distributor has yet taken it upon themselves to get it out on the market in DVD format!! Incredibly frustrating. I sqw it twice in the year it came out, and have been looking for it since.

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