Songs from the Second Floor (2000)

Sadly Over-hyped

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

I have to admit, I really struggled with watching this movie. As a whole, it (kind of) make sense: the fate of humanity and how no one knows where we're going, how grey and flat things are etc. There are however so many scenes where I just kept on asking myself, what does this mean, but no answers were provided. Stylistically it feels as if you're watching Storm Thorgerson's moving pictures, so that part is quite nice, especially the final scene. But at the end, the movie left me feeling empty, but not because it is its intend to do so, but because I've no idea what was going through director's head when each shot was made. And internet, nor other reviews provided much explanation. I would love to watch this movie again with the director sitting by my side, explaining what he meant to say with each scene.

This movie is a closer look at the social scenarios that would spring up if we are to experience a crisis as the one imagined by Anderson. As much as the camera stays aloof and objective, it is a very close up analysis of the characters involved in the story. Just like with any difficult moments in life the pillars are put into question, Family, Faith, Economy, and each shot was dedicated to one of them. The absurdity and the simplicity of the shot is what made this movie funny, because they remind us of something very common and very easy to grasp. What I also liked about this movie are the actors performances, with any movie there is always a feeling of Protagonism enforced upon us though for good reasons sometimes but to really delve into the mass you need actors just like in society of similar mayhem that is why the director decided to hire normal people to do the acting and that is why I believe it took 4 years to finalize it. Now, I call this cinematic style coin me for it, Scandinavian Neo-Realism!!

I loved some of the ideas presented here, but not so much the cold and empty execution. This is no fault of the film. It is just such a bizarre offering that its last concern is the audience. The film focuses on a bizarre city where time seems to have come to a halt. There are traffic jams, and people trying to get somewhere. However, very few seem to know where. One man is scared of the insurance men, after causing a fire, another has trouble with his stomach after an accident at a magic show. It's a film that requires you to sit and study, much like a poem. A lot of it is funny, such as the attention to detail. Seeing a parade of men in the background whipping each other is both unsettling but comical. It may have struck 10 years old, but a lot of the film has to do with accounts, brokers and businessmen. A repeated theme is the cost of business. This is still true, even more so today. Bizarre and interesting, but certainly a challenge.

I have seen a lot of movies, but recently not many have completely blown me away. Songs from the Second Floor did. The film does look accomplished, the scenery is stunning and the cinematography is done with deliberate disquietingly static insistence. The pace is meditative, again deliberately done to perhaps give the characters more humanity, but it is never dull. The story is told with a haunting and somewhat surrealistic atmosphere with some biting satirical elements, and even more impressive is its ability to effectively convey modern life's coldness and chaos. Songs from the Second Floor is directed beautifully and while completely improvised there is not an amateurish note in sight. In conclusion, an astounding film really. 10/10 Bethany Cox