Elsewhere
(2001/Nikolaus Geyrhalter/Icarus DVD Set)
Picture: C+ Sound: C+ Extras: D Main Program: B+
In a
remarkable multi-part work, Nikolaus Geyrhalter visited some of the most remote
places in the world to see how people literally survive at the edges of the
world in his 4-hour opus Elsewhere
(2001), visiting people living in places you may have heard of and likely have
never seen, including in parts of popular locales. It can be hard to watch because so many of
these people have so little and often have what you might call simple lives,
while it reminded me of the grim, sad portrait of homelessness Dark Days (reviewed elsewhere on this
site) in creating the senses of dread of people who could have more and be
happier if they had better opportunities and better situations stuck never
realizing them or even knowing they are possible.
The
locations include 12 places (one per month):
January
Niger
February
Finland
March Namibia
April Indonesia
May Greenland
June Australia
July India
August Russia
September
China
October
Italy
November
Canada
December
Micronesia
The
struggles are familiar, the stories heartbreaking, the attitudes and pain
universal. Geyrhalter has created a true
achievement in many ways, including showing that no matter how good things have
become for some, there are many who will never find happiness or joy, just
trying to get by and it is sobering for those will more opportunities who
complain instead of try to do something with their lives to see this stark,
true portrait of these people we get to visit.
It is a surprise that some of the locations are known names, but happen
to be in places their governments would prefer not to deal with openly or
publicly.
With many
things in the world going badly of late (environment, relations, economy,
quality of life), Elsewhere reminds
us it was never good for so many to begin with and some things never
change. Just because you might be doing
well, assuming others are too is self-serving myth. It is ultimately a portrait of people left
behind that, if we do not forget them or about them, it keeps us honest.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image digitally-shot images are sometimes
remarkable considering the conditions and remoteness of the areas in footage
youll never see again. Some clever
shots are gained all over the place and you often even feel you are there. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is as good a
series of location recordings under the circumstances as we could expect. The combination is as compelling as any such
documentary of late and far superior to goofy reality TV garbage. There are no extras.
- Nicholas Sheffo
