Back to Black

A tad reluctant to see another biopic, having been disappointed by some (pace Rustin). But it was very enjoyable, and convincing. I like how they didn’t show her death, just implied it by her going upstairs towards the light (cf. the Auschwitz commandant’s descent on stairs towards darkness in Zone of Interest). Also nice are the repeated tattooing scenes, where Amy and her man retreat when things are tough: something interesting there about the imagery of making herself an, er, image.

La Chimera

A British archaeologist turned tomb-robber, using his supernatural ability to locate tombs to help the ‘tombaroli’ in Tuscany. An intriguing (in the traditional sense) film, fascinating and fun. But for the last hour it seems to lose its way, unsure as to what exactly it wants to do (or so I thought). The very end disappointed me (but not others); I personally didn’t really like the theme of the deceased lover and the red thread – too artificial a trope of holding the narrative together.

How they are related

The main parallel has to be between the art on the objects in the tombs, and Amy and her man’s turning themselves into art at the tattoo parlour. It’s this surface decoration which gives meaning and purpose to both narratives. The dealers and curators buy the pots on the basis of the painted designs, and it’s to this aspect of appearance that Amy and her man resort.

Then again, the film’s climactic objet is a large, beautiful (and brutally dismembered in the interests of a quick steal) statue of a goddess, unpainted. Our archaeologist, in a fit of remorse for pimping this beauty to sordid eyes, preserves the goddess’ dignity by throwing her head into the lake. I didn’t see Amy’s death in this light, but there is something special about the legacy of all stars who die young…