The Loneliest Planet

...nothing will castrate a man in a woman's eyes more than using her as a Human Shield: Even for a nanosecond. It's done.Dato becomes a REAL man after a climactic event; everyone is whining about nobody talking about 'it.' Not much to say after something like that happens, is there?? She was mature enough to not rag about it for the rest of the entire trip; Dato is very happy it fell in his lap, as he tried to take advantage of the situation; Alex KNOWS he effed up in a Richter Scale magnitude way...Sure, the scenery was gorgeous; I skipped thru a lot of it cuz the scenery was just of them walking. Despite anything I've written above, I just wanted to get to it. The fact that she couldn't get thru it and began vomiting pretty much seals the deal, as far as I'm concerned. Eww on a voiceless physical level. She even preferred Dato carrying her from the stream when she slipped.Just a long way of saying don't be a woooos. Women don't find that attractive.

This really could've been an absolutely amazing film. Brilliantly filmed in the country of Georgia in some of the most spectacular mountain scenery imaginable. The actors are obviously capable of excellent work. Even the basic theme of the film had a lot of promise. But the director chose to do the whole piece as though only photographed on the surface, not inhabited. The majority of words used in the film are the kinds of random nonsequitors that people say when they know each other well and have often discussed many other issues. Or the kinds of introductory banter a tour guide might use showing something to someone for the first time. And yet this film screams out for dialogue, for some sort of genuine interiority. We see the characters thinking; odd looks, frowns, queasy feelings, yet we never hear what anyone is thinking about. As if anyone ever simply has an expression divorced from thoughts. Or take a (the?) pivotal point in the film, a man points a gun at them. Then they walk on... and on... and on.. and THEY NEVER DISCUSS IT! When in history has such an event occurred among 20 or 30 somethings and there not been cascades of discussion? Supposedly this changes their relationship. I suspect the director mostly told them to stop talking. I think was a good demonstration of the limits of the "show don't tell" idea. There must be language and words. I could go on, I really wanted to love this film, but in the end I just wanted someone talk.

This film will move the one who has travelled long term, without any goal in mind but the journey itself. This film captures the spirit of travel to foreign lands, enraptured with the momentary lapse of time, that only such travel can so viscerally travel. We are often asked before we leave, where are you going? why are you going there? and for those of us who know this spirit, we cannot say, we just plan accordingly and go. So The Lonely Planet captures this from start to end, though there is no definite beginning or end, as in life there is no beginning or end. I could see many walking away dissatisified, because there is no explosions, no fancy cars, no guns, but this is not for the typical eye. It is an artistic film, the characters expose us to love, the strife of interconnectedness and intimacy, and its unparalleled beauty. To the wakeful eye, this film has something to offer, something of capturing the transcendent spirit of the mundane world. The climax is unnerving, and a bit oddly placed, but in life, that is how such things go. So, alas, we must move with it as it moves, and The Loneliest Planet provides us with a glimpse of that.

I agree with the other reviewers that this film is not mainstream. The fact that it's an indie film perhaps makes that obvious. What's not obvious is the quiet that speaks volumes. Not a lot of dialogue, barely any. Enough though.This couple has the relationship we all want and envy. Intimate, close, perfectly paired. I kept thinking who would they find to fit so well. They would never find what they have with each other: Inside jokes, mutual relaxed fun, extreme intimacy and knowledge of each other's habits and wants, anticipating each others needs, never bored, always close and always taking care of the other without question. Giving and receiving to each other without question. Until...I think the message of this movie is that you never really know someone. Or, the person and yourself isn't exactly what you thought. And when you see a chink...in the person or in yourself, what do you do about it? What does it mean for the relationship. Is he/she who you thought? Are you? Was everything else a lie because of the chink. Is the chink really a chasm?This movie made me feel and think. I felt for each character separately. It created the ability for us to have empathy for each person, and feel agony, shame, and loneliness. As a bonus, the setting was gorgeous, and we got a key hole into the Georgian culture and unrest.

The Loneliest Planet is one tough film to rate given the glacial pacing and general lack of drama. Two engaged lovers Alex and Nica (Gael GarciaBernal and Hani Furstenberg) embark on a long languid hike through the Caucasus mountains in Georgia with a local guide. Both actors are wonderful, crazy in love, we share many quiet intimate moments until an unexpected encounter with locals threatens everything. Bernal is always terrific and Miss Furstenberg is a real find. The scenery is gorgeous and is enjoyable as a travelogue. The film succeeds largely due to the chemistry of the two lovers until a jolting incident with local sheep herders causes Nica to question everything about her future husband. This brief incident involving a split second bad decision on Alex's part seems to carry a lot of baggage for some viewers. Will Nica be able to move past it? The ending does perhaps offer a hint of an answer. This is a wonderful little love story for some viewers. Pacing will certainly be an issue for some, I suppose 25-30 minutes could have been cut without hurting the film.

Ein Paar möchte vor der Hochzeit noch eine Rucksacktour machen. Sie engagieren eine Führer und begeben sich auf eine Tour in eine sehr entlegene Gegend. Anfangs haben die beiden sich zum Fressen gern jedoch so langsam fordert die Einsamkeit ihren Tribut und ihre Beziehung wird auf eine sehr harte Probe gestellt. Dieser Film ist wunderschön bebildert, einfühlsam verlangt jedoch Geduld weil er etwas langatmig ist. Dennoch verliert er zu keinem Zeitpunkt sein Niveau. Ich wünschte viel mehr Filmemacher würden sich so viel Mühe geben und auf die Details mehr achten.