Lost Loves and Last Dances

Read Time:4 Minute, 2 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
Roseland (Blu-ray)
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Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
Year Released: 1977, 2024 Cohen Film Collection 4K
Runtime: 1h 44m
Director(s): James Ivory
Writer(s): Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Cast: Christopher Walken, Geraldine Chaplin, Teresa Wright, Lou Jacobi
Where To Watch: available November 12, 2024; pre-order your copy here: www.kinolorber.com or www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: James Ivory’s ROSELAND is an evocative stroll through the echoes of a New York City ballroom, capturing the delicate dance of life’s joys and sorrows. Here, the Roseland Ballroom isn't just a setting; it's a silent narrator chronicling the intertwining tales of souls seeking solace. With each scene, Ivory crafts an experience that feels as intimate as a whisper but as universal as a tale for all, exploring the timeless themes of memory, loss, and the indomitable human spirit.

At the heart of ROSELAND, we're introduced to May in the segment ‘The Waltz. ' Teresa Wright portrays May with captivating subtlety as a widow. Her dances are poignant reflections rather than performances, revealing her journey between the anchors of her past and the possibilities of the future. The camera captures each expression and step, crafting a dialogue about her inner turmoil.

The plot evolves with Christopher Walken’s character, Russell, in ‘The Hustle,’ a gigolo who balances the expectations of love and transaction. With his smooth steps and complex interior, Walken navigates his relationships with an intriguing blend of mystery and charisma. His interactions with Geraldine Chaplin’s Marilyn, portraying a woman out of sync with the dance hall's aging glitter, strike a chord of tension. This middle segment shifts gears, blending youthful exuberance with the nostalgic tinge of experience, each couple spinning their tale of connection and catharsis.

The narrative crescendo arrives with ‘The Peabody,’ focusing on Lilia Skala's Rosa, whose fierce determination to win a dance competition mirrors her struggle for a better existence far from her homeland. Her dance with Arthur (David Thomas) is less a harmonious duet and more a shared battle against life’s harsh rhythms, poignantly framing the film's more profound exploration of hope and resilience.

Throughout, Ivory’s direction weaves these stories with a hand so deft that the film itself becomes a character—the ballroom, a stage set for the drama of ordinary lives rendered extraordinary through the lens of dance. With its soft focus and careful framing, the cinematography enhances the vintage feel without tipping into sepia-tinted sentimentality, allowing the characters' raw emotions to resonate authentically.

Performance-wise, Walken and Skala deliver roles that resonate. Walken’s portrayal is a finely tuned balance of bravado and vulnerability, offering a glimpse into the soul behind the suave façade. Skala, in contrast, embodies the gritty reality of dreams deferred but never abandoned, her every move conveying a narrative of defiance and dignity.

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala’s script pirouettes between eloquence and enthusiasm, with dialogues that dance around the profound without ever stepping into melodrama. Her screenplay is less about the dance and more about the steps of life, choreographed with such care that even the pauses speak volumes.

ROSELAND transcends the trappings of a mere period piece to become a moving reflection on life’s fleeting encounters and the lasting impressions they leave. Ivory not only directs a film about dancers; he directs a movie about life, using the universal language of dance to articulate unspoken truths about the human experience. This isn’t just a film; it's a heartfelt invitation to reflect on our life's dance long after the music has faded.

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[photo courtesy of COHEN FILM COLLECTION, KINO LORBER]

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