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Viva la muerte

As the Spanish Civil War draws to a close, Fando, a young boy, is tormented by violently conflicting feelings towards his mother, who he suspects may have had a role in his father’s capture by fascists; feelings that manifest themselves as a nightmare onslaught of terrifying and bizarre imagery. Based on Fernando Arrabal’s own brutal experiences during the Civil War, Viva la muerte is a shockingly provocative work of surrealist cinema from the artist and filmmaker, who co-founded the ‘Panic Movement’ collective alongside Alejandro Jodorowsky. Acclaimed on release by critics and scorned by censors, Viva la muerte would later achieve notoriety as a midnight movie, and was a favourite film of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Restored in 4K with the collaboration of Fernando Arrabal, Radiance is proud to present Viva la muerte on English-subtitled Blu-ray for the first time ever.

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

New 4K restoration of the original 35mm negative by the Cinémathèque Toulouse in collaboration with Fernando Arrabal
Audio discussion from the Project Booth podcast featuring Mike White, Heather Drain and Jess Byard (66 mins)
Sur les traces de Baal - a short documentary by Abdellatif Ben Ammar in which the filmmaker followed Arrabal’s film and captured him at work on Viva la Muerte! (1970, 20 mins)
VIDARRABAL - a feature-length documentary on Arrabal by Xavier Pasturel Barron capturing the life and work of this singular filmmaker, playwright, painter and essayist, featuring interviews with admirers, friends and family, including members of the Panic Movement he founded (2011, 98 mins)
Interview with scholar and Spanish cinema expect David Archibald (2024)
Trailer
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork
Booklet featuring new writing by Sabina Stent and archival interview with Fernando Arrabal
Limited Edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings

A bit disappointed that this isn't the whole trilogy, but it looks like a stellar disc. I remember liking this more than Jodorowsky's films, for the most part.

Up there among the releases of the year. Hopefully it leads to the other two films…

Radiance told me in response to a question about more Arrabal after this one:

No plans right now but a sell out of this would guarantee follow up!

So you know what you have to do if you want I Will Walk Like a Crazy Horse in glorious HD!

Viva La Beaver

…fans of surreal, provocative and politically-charged cinema will appreciate the stacked Radiance Blu-ray package…

Blu-ray.com

Prospective viewers are warned about some of the shocking imagery that's on tap, but the film has a weird, psychedelic power that is increasingly hypnotic.

Peacock wrote: Tue Aug 27, 2024 9:37 pm Prospective viewers are warned about some of the shocking imagery that's on tap

...animal cruelty?

I get what this film was going for, and it was mildly effective as a twisted exhibition of a boy trying to make sense of horrible circumstances while being subject to them simultaneously, but my what an unpleasant experience. What's strange is that the artistic merits feel so split - there's awful filmmaking (and not just the many curious edits of surreal-for-surreal-sake exposition, which are doled out in spades) alongside genuinely effective and strong compositions of realist horror. As an externalization of developmental trauma, it still misses the boat with its bifurcated style and lack of connective tissue to the source issues, and the randomness of some disturbing imagery and interplay can offset the intended tone with unfunny black comedy. I dunno what people get out of this, but I wanted to claw my eyes out, and not just because of the grossness - I generally have a high tolerance for this kind of stuff, but the filmmaking itself was as offputting as the 'triggering' content.

Randall Maysin Again wrote: Wed Aug 28, 2024 12:31 am

Peacock wrote: Tue Aug 27, 2024 9:37 pm Prospective viewers are warned about some of the shocking imagery that's on tap

...animal cruelty?

Yes, at the end, if you make it that far

Would you say this is as shocking as Salo or would you say that this is somehow more off putting? Mostly asking because it will help me in deciding if this worth the purchase.

I own Salo and it doesn't bother me (well, it does, but as intended commentary). This is more off-putting to me, but not necessarily in ways I can describe. It's just messy filmmaking wrapped up in nonsensical violence, but it's not the violence by itself that put me off.

therewillbeblus wrote: Sat Aug 31, 2024 1:42 am I own Salo and it doesn't bother me (well, it does, but as intended commentary). This is more off-putting to me, but not necessarily in ways I can describe. It's just messy filmmaking wrapped up in nonsensical violence, but it's not the violence by itself that put me off.

Alright I guess I'll watch it first where I can to see if I would like it better than purchase it if I like it (not that I wasn't going to anyways since it's included on the list).

therewillbeblus wrote: Sat Aug 31, 2024 1:02 am I get what this film was going for, and it was mildly effective as a twisted exhibition of a boy trying to make sense of horrible circumstances while being subject to them simultaneously, but my what an unpleasant experience. What's strange is that the artistic merits feel so split - there's awful filmmaking (and not just the many curious edits of surreal-for-surreal-sake exposition, which are doled out in spades) alongside genuinely effective and strong compositions of realist horror. As an externalization of developmental trauma, it still misses the boat with its bifurcated style and lack of connective tissue to the source issues, and the randomness of some disturbing imagery and interplay can offset the intended tone with unfunny black comedy. I dunno what people get out of this, but I wanted to claw my eyes out, and not just because of the grossness - I generally have a high tolerance for this kind of stuff, but the filmmaking itself was as offputting as the 'triggering' content.

Randall Maysin Again wrote: Wed Aug 28, 2024 12:31 am

Peacock wrote: Tue Aug 27, 2024 9:37 pm Prospective viewers are warned about some of the shocking imagery that's on tap

...animal cruelty?

Yes, at the end, if you make it that far

Thanks for the write up. Sounds like this will be the first sub title I flip without even opening it.

The most apt LB review I've encountered

movies and i aren't speaking anymore