Mala Noche

We were in a flurry last Tuesday. Takeaways, tap class and then a movie.
The local film club were showing Gus Van Sant's 'Mala Noche'.
Each year, we buy a three pass ticket and randomly choose three films from the entire year's programme.

Shot in black and white, 'Mala Noche'-translated as Bad Night follows Walt, a liquor store attendant and his unrequited love for a Mexican hustler.
Set near Skid Row in Portland, we follow these characters in battered cars, old apartments, immigrant boarding houses and the grimy streets.

The dialogue was sparse and a mixture of Spanish and English. Scenes focused on expressions and the sudden movement of the characters as they ran up stairs, drove cars and sat contemplating.

I started to focus on the framing of the shots and position of items in scenes during the slow periods. Suddenly there would be an explosion of action on scene bringing you back to the plot. Especially liked the hand-written credits over the main actors playing up to the camera.

Looking forward to our next chosen movie, 'The Architects'.