Once again I dive into the wild world of Fernando Arrabal, reviewing his second film: I Will Walk Like a Crazy Horse (again released by Cult Epics). This film strays from the political nature of Viva La Muerte, and explores the evils of modern society.
FILM- After the death of his mother, Aden, a socially scared epileptic, flees into the desert. Wanted for questioning in her death, he is perused by the police; lead by Inspector Gay. In the desert, Aden meets Marvel; a nomadic hermit who lives with his flock. Marvel has some amazing powers, and is closely linked to nature. Aden is fascinated, and he befriends Marvel. With Inspector Gay clueless to his location, Aden persuades Marvel to come with him to the city. Marvel has lived in the desert his whole life, and has no knowledge of technology or civilization. After packing their belonging, the two friends (accompanied by Theresa, their goat) journey into the city. Marvel is horrified by the cruelty the "civilized" inflict on nature, and hates the modern society. Aden accidentally kills a prostitute one night, and the police restart their hunt. During their final attempt to outrun the authorities, Marvel finds happiness; and we find out the facts in the murder.
While not as personal as Viva La Muerte, this is still a fairly autobiographical film. The loathing of the mother and the uncertainty of religion are all present in Aden, same as Fando. I Will Walk is more in style with the modern Spanish Surrealist films. It blurs the lines of reality and fiction continuously; as opposed to "imagined surrealism" of Viva La Muerte. This entry in Arrabal's filmography is incredibly grotesque, yet beautiful as well. The imagery is over the top; and this has one of the most emotionally charged endings of any film of this caliber. Only a talent like Arraba could make deification, cannibalism, and gas masks as beautiful as they appear in this film. 9/10.
PICTURE/ AUDIO- The picture looks fantastic. The landscapes look beautiful, and the colors show up well. The picture is not soft at all, and has minimal grain. However, there are many "clouds" and circular scars on the film. These are very unusual looking, and pop up at random times; enhancing the absurdity of the film. 8/10.
The audio in this one, same as Viva La Muerte, possesses that 70's charm. Little interference and a strong soundtrack make this a solid audio transfer. 8/10.
EXTRAS- Cult Epics has once again packed their release with extras. Along with some impressive liner notes, we also get: an interviews with Fernando Arrabal, German lobbycard gallery, and the theatrical trailer for Viva La Muerte. 8/10.
This DVD is part of the Fernando Arrabal Collection Vol. 1, which is reviewed here!
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