River of Fundament: A well shot but challenging film

It was a strange feeling sitting through Matthew Barney’s River of Fundament, a six-hour film loosely based on Norman Mailer’s novel Ancient Evenings.  The screening was part of the Adelaide Festival 2014 programme, held at the old Capri Theatre in the Goodwood area.

Ancient Evenings was about an ancient Egyptian Pharoh seeking reincarnation three times in the hope of achieving immortality.  In Barney’s film, it was Norman Mailer who had to reincarnate 3 times, in the form of cars.  And he had to cross the river of feces to attain his reincarnation. 

Mathew Barney’s film had a grandness in it, and he managed to get well-known actors like Ellen Burstyn, Paul Giamatti and Maggie Gyllenhaal to appear in it.  It also included 3 live performances that was related to the story.  Visually, it was stunning to watch and artistically shot.  The length of the movie did get to me, and at times I felt it was rather self-indulgent. This would be a film that would divide the audience.  Adelaide Festival must be praised to have the courage to put this in its programme.

A memorable thing of going to Capri Theatre was to dine at this little bistro / restaurant called L'Atelier Gourmand.   Had a wonderful chicken entree.  Cappuccino was great too!

Prices were reasonable.