Linked Stories

Leaves From Satan's Book
$9.99
This is one of those quintessential anti-recommendations for people interested in silent cinema, since it displays a lot of the old stereotypes about things such as overacting, a boring storyline, and a camera that isn't very fluid. Though it was shot in 1919 (and released in 1921), it already appears like a relic from a decade earlier. Another problem is how chatty it is; there are some silents with a lot of intertitles that do work, but this sure isn't one of them. The appeal of the silent drama is that it's supposed to show, not tell, the audience. And for a film from 1919/1921, it's incredibly long. I've seen quite a few silents over the usual maximum length of 80 or 90 minutes that held me captivated throughout, but this one was so dull to begin with that the excess length only hindered it.

The plot itself is interesting and did have potential, what with the novel idea of Satan not wanting to be a bad guy and wanting people to do good instead of evil, so that he'll have a thousand years of respite if his latest victim doesn't succumb to temptation. It could be that the episodic structure bogs it down even more--just as we're getting to know these characters and getting into the storyline, we change eras and get introduced to a new set of characters (played by the same actors) and a new plot. If this film was inspired by 'Intolerance,' then that hardly puts me in a hurry to see that film (in addition to the fact that I don't like D.W. Griffith anyway), which is even longer than this one! I also dislike films that are overly preachy and moralistic, making the whole thing into some sort of overwrought morality play instead of just telling a good story without hitting the viewer over the head with some heavy message.

The first story is about the Crucifixion. Besides the fact that as a non-Christian and a historian I have a lot of issues with the things being presented as fact, it just moves slowly, the least interesting of the 4 tales. And since this tale has already been told so many times before, it just seems predictable, not bringing anything new to this familiar story. The second story is about the Spanish Inquisition, which has a lot of images that were probably considered rather graphic for the time, such as the priest flaggelating himself while fantasising about Isabel, his forbidden love interest, beneath a cross. Probably the best section is the third, taking place during the French Revolution. There seems to be more character and plot development in this one. It's also the time period that interests me most of the 4 represented. The final segment is a modern story, taking place during the 1918 revolution in Finland, when the nation won their independence and threw off the yoke of Russian/Soviet rule. This one is also better-developed than the earlier tales, but since this isn't a period of history that most people outside of Scandinavia are familiar with (unfortunately), it probably isn't going to mean anything to the average viewer. One feels relief not only for the fact that Satan finally got his thousand years of respite but also for the fact that it's finally over!

The film is worth watching for its historical merit, but other than that, it's far from an ideal first silent, and far from an ideal first film to see if one is interested in the works of Carl Theodor Dreyer. He directed far better films than this, ones that are actually interesting and faster-paced, such as 'The Parson's Widow' and his famous 'The Passion of Joan of Arc.' This isn't exactly going to be a film that most people will want to watch over and over again, or to put in the player to kill some time when bored.

The Nightingales of Troy: Stories of One Family's Century
$23.95
As 2nd generation Trojian, this book brings back fond memories of the area and the times esp. of family lore.
The Irish view the world in unusual ways and the influence of the Church colored much of that view. Enjoyed all the old expressions and stories it was going back in time and memory.
I enjoyed the book though found some of the sadness and lost opportunities for improvement a bit overwhelming esp. on the choices made.

Frears "the grandest" Dept Store at Christmas was breathtaking

The Woman in the Woods: Linked Stories
$14.95
I am from New Hampshire, but I read this book on vacation in Utah. This book effectively brought me back to the woods of my home. It is an exhilerating story of life, death, and all that is involved in the middle.

Body and Blood: A Novel of Linked Stories
$14.95
Russell displays a finely crafted, poetic approach to writing. His complex storyline draws a reader in and evokes emotional responses usually limited to personal experience. The clairity of the various voices, coupled with the darkly passionate rendition of Vermont life, marks Russell as a writer to watch.