Blancanieves: A reminder of great silent film

My first real experience with silent film, as an event, was in college at BYU where the classical radio station hosted a "Silent Movie Night" every semester. Mike Ohman, a member of the music faculty and an experienced silent film organist, played the organ to Buster Keaton's classic The General. Mr. Ohman instructed the audience, the majority of which had never watched a silent movie, that it was ok, and in fact encouraged, to applaud the hero in moments of triumph or to boo the villian (anything short of throwing popcorn at the screen - it was a concert hall we were in after all). He would signify these moments with his playing style and he really knew how to work a crowd. I think up to this point I had seen Chaplin's Modern Times and a number of shorts, but after watching The General that night I realized something new: I could enjoy a silent film as much as any other film. It was a revelation that has sent me in search of many of the greatest films of the silent era. We returned later in the fall to see The Phantom of the Opera. Other historical keystones and personal favorites include The Gold Rush, Man With A Movie Camera, and Sunrise. Blancaviences, a 2012 black and white Spanish film from director Pablo Berger, is a great 21st century silent film that adheres to the classic silent movie style, enhanced by technological advances and a love for fantastic storytelling.

Daniel Gimenez Cacho plays the father and bullfighter extraordinaire, Antonio Villalta

The movie opens on 1920's Spain on the big day at the coliseum. Antonio Villalta, the star toreador, is top billing for the day's events and the crowd waits with baited breath as he begins his dance with the mighty toro. But an accident occurs, shaming and crippling him. The same day, his wife dies in childbirth, leaving him a broken man with a baby to care for. An enterprising nurse, Encarna, sees an opportunity and becomes his primary caretaker, eventually weaseling her way into control of his life by becoming his wife. He becomes a willless man and she, a merciless and manipulative mistress over his home and estate. The baby, little Carmen, is the only reminder of what Antonio's life used to be. She is never allowed to see her father and the only love she receives is from her grandmother, who shortly dies as well. This is most definitely Snow White but it is a retelling without the magic, but perhaps still a bit of mysticism. The fantasy is in the fatefulness and not the smoke and mirrors. Eventually, a grown Carmen leaves home and becomes an amnesiac. Without any home or anyone to turn to, 6 dwarves, a band of mini-bullfighters (think rodeo clowns) take her in. Blancanieves is the 7th. There are twists on the original story: Grumpy is still grumpy but with a streak of vindictive jealousy and some roles double up. But Berger focuses on little instincts and cues that tie Blancanieves back to her roots as the daughter of a bull fighter. It's a better Snow White, really, than the standard Disney version - more about the heroine finding herself than finding Prince Charming.

Maribel Verdu is the wicked Stepmother and she plays it so well

But we must remember Ebert's Law: "A movie is not about what it is about. It is about how it is about it." This movie is really all about the joyful, more visceral experience of watching a silent film. Striving to adhere strictly to the genre of the silent films of the 1920's and 1930's, it serves both as a reminder of the magic of that format and as a marker of the advancement of film technology. You may never have seen a silent film (if so, shame on you. Go watch The General), but even if you've watched the latest the Transformers movie you've seen, heard, and felt the effects of things learned and innovated through silent film. The next time you watch a movie, think about the different purely-visual mechanisms that are used to display emotion, to further the plot, or to introduce a new character. There is an efficiency in the tactics used that is not only effective in communicating something to the audience, but in doing it in an entertaining way.

As for the modern take on the genre, Blancanieves strives to capture the essence of the original reference material while using updated technology to add clarity and a few flourishing touches. It was filmed in color which was afterward taken out, giving it a brighter tone with a beautifully-crisp, high-def feel. It goes beyond The Artist by cutting down the aspect ratio to a more traditional size. Although this followed The Artist by a year or two, Berger thought of the concept of the film back in 2003 and had been working on it since that time. That The Artist beat him to the punch may have stolen some of his thunder in the race of PR and marketing, but that in no way detracts from the quality and accomplishment of this movie. It is certainly overlooked and worth more than one watch.

The misfit band of dwarves

Ironically, one of my favorite aspects of silent film, both classic and modern, is its use of sound. Both Blancanieves and The Artist benefit from the advantage of the ability to do more well-crafted and subtle sound work than was available in the silent era. Back then, filmmakers would sometimes send out sheet music or musician's notes accompanying their movies with instructions on what and how to play at different points in the story. There is a real charm in imagining how each showing of a film would be distinct and original. But with the precision of modern sound technology the opportunities to overcome the restrictions of the classic format allow for occasional breaks from tradition with sound effects and music. Set in 1920's Spain, the music for Blancanieves ranges from traditional silent sound-direction to invigorating Spanish guitar and flamenco music, often relying on the rhythmic clapping, snapping, and percussion to add suspense, movement, and excitement to a scene. This is done especially well during the emotional climax at the final bullfighting scene when a Blancanieves on-the-rise begins to recall her origins. I was smiling, laughing, and feeling every moment of this movie so please do yourself a favor and queue it up. Currently streaming on Netflix - very family friendly.