Andrzej Zulawski's Szamanka is frantic, highly stylized, and an extremely bold experience that captures the madness and conflict that exists between love and passion, in way that only Zulawski could provide. The narrative of Szamanka centers around the physically-fueled relationship between Michal, an anthropologist, and an unnammed woman who is known as"the Italian'. 'The Italian' is a woman who can only be described as a being of pure carnal desire, driven completely by her sexual appetite as if it is detrimental to her survival. She is a very mysterious character who Michal feels immense passion for, with Zulawski photographing their sexual experiences in a way that makes Last Tango In Paris look tame by comparison. Michal is a married man, with a Priest for a brother, but the sexual connection between 'the Italian' and himself is something he simply can't resist. Discovering the corpse of a thousand year old shaman that has been preserved by time, Michal grows equally obssesed with the mystery between the Shaman's death, and his obsession with 'The Italian'. Andzej Zulawski's Szamanka is an assault on the senses and the mind, raising a host of interesting themes and ideals, but unfortunately unlike some of the filmmakers greatest works, Szamanka struggles to fully express some of them. Szamanka features the filmmakers' incredible camera-work, being another beautifully photographed film from the director and cinematographer thats visual energy perfectly matches the film's off-kilter tone. Szamanka touches on themes and ideas pertaining to the male and female ego and love vs. lust, but what makes this film so interesting to me is how it uses these two extreme characters and over-stuffed narrative as a symbolic representation of athiesm vs. catholisicm. Zulawski uses his typical attacks on convensional morality and censorship to fuel this tale of sexul desire, with Michal eventually becoming a Preist, like his brother, when he gets pushed to the edge by this pulsating creature of pleasure. Oddly enough, Szamanka very well might be the most restrained film in Zulawksi's filmography, with over-the-top acting and stylized camera work that while bold for many feels almost subdued for the great Polish filmmaker.
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AuthorLove of all things cinema brought me here. Archives
June 2023
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