Susannah York won the Best Actress award at Cannes for her performance as a deeply schizophrenic woman who can’t sort out her hallucinations from real life in Robert Altman’s richly textured 1972 psychological thriller. Cathryn (York) and her husband Hugh (Altman regular René Auberjonois) retreat from the city to their country home in the rolling hills of Ireland for a rest with a family friend (Hugh Millais)--who is also one of Cathryn’s former lovers--and his daughter. When confronted by another dead lover (Marcel Bozzuffi), she shoots him with a shotgun, which gives her the idea of ridding herself of her other visions by killing them. This is one of Altman’s most intimate films, made in an unusually reserved, removed style that is very different from his bustling ensemble dramas and comedies, and it is one of his most demanding. Like his 3 Women, the narrative explores anxiety, madness, and sexual desire in women who are living in a world of aggressive masculinity, but this is actually more of a psychological puzzle, a complex intertwining of realities that seem equally real to both Cathryn and to viewers. Images is filmed on location in Ireland by the legendary Vilmos Zsigmond in cool colors and it is accompanied by a discordant John Williams score that adds to the uneasy atmosphere. Although one of Altman’s least well-known films, it is also one of his richest and most personal, and it deserves rediscovery. Bowing on Blu-ray in a newly restored edition, extras include audio commentaries (an archival scene-select one by Altman, and a new track by critics Samm Deighan and Kat Ellinger), and new and archival interviews. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)
Images
Arrow, 101 min., not rated, Blu-ray: $39.99 Volume 33, Issue 3
Images
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: