Eros

With three short films about one theme that I wish to call erotic this compilation is uneven thanks mainly to the presence of the short Equilibrium by Steve Soderbergh that I find it has potential but definitively does not belong here, as has nothing erotic in it. Unfortunately Pedro Almodóvar couldn’t do his short as he was busy doing The Bad Education and Steve Soderbergh replaced him.

But the best short according to me is Wong Kar-Wai’s The Hand starring incredible erotic Li Gong in a must-be seen short about an impossible affair between a high-end call girl and her tailor. To my eyes this short recalls the cinematography and light treatment of Kar-Wai’s 2046 and perhaps it was influenced by it, as Kar-Wai was involved in the chaotic production of this film when he delivered The Hand. Have to admit that this short I’ve seen it a few times before, but this is my first time within the complete anthology and I can see it again many more times. Fantastic!

Then there is the short “Il filo Pericoloso delle cose” (The Dangerous Thread of Things) by Michelangelo Antonioni and has all his style written allover and it was a pleasure to be able to see it finally. I believe that this segment has to be seen with different eyes, as the story and style today it may seem quite different to what filmmakers tell/do nowadays; but if you transport yourself to earlier times you will simply love this short that is absolutely elusive in meaning and resists simple conclusions. Besides is a must be seen as it is Antonioni's last work.

One of the things I loved the most about this anthology is the way the producers chose to join the three segments. Not only the drawings by Lorenzo Mattoti were beautiful but also the music just was fantastic, exactly what I like. The song “Michelangelo” was written and performed by Brazilian Caetano Veloso and not only the lyrics are fabulous (he sings in Italian), but the music is so sensual and erotic. The most beautiful and sensual way to blend the shorts.

This is a must be seen anthology for The Hand segment, the Antonioti’s segment and the amazing interludes.

Enjoy!