Glen and Randa (1971)

Glen and Randa (1971)
written by Lorenzo Mils and Jim McBride
directed by Jim McBride

It seems appropriate to herald in the New Year with a post apocalyptic movie made right after flower power and hippies ushered in the 70's with Woodstock.

I can't get enough of the seventies, the movies are always a sign of the time, where nowadays there is no timeless movie coming out, there isn't alot that seems to want to be a sign of the time. However, Woodstock, Two Lane Blacktop, and this film Glen and Randa seem to revel in their respective times. Glen and Randa is, like I said, a post apocalyptic story regarding two survivors of some unknown fallout, who travel the country side in search of anything. Later after reading some Wonder Woman comics, Glen wants to find Metropolis.

The two set on random adventures, and the movie becomes episodic as it centers on different stages of their travels, they meet other scavengers, entrepreneurs of the new life and even a hermit on a beach. Its a simple film without a lot of direction, but there are some striking images and sometimes the movie even feels like scenes are extracted from Mondo Cane. It should also be known, due to the state of the world, or America as we know it here, our two survivors are idiots, they maybe articulate and can carry a conversation, but they are re-learning or just learning things of their world as they travel. Glen has no concept of time, and Randa becomes pregnant during the course of the film.

But the film is really beautiful, albeit boring in spots, I did not like the constant fade to blacks, every two minutes it felt. But scenes involving a car melted into a tree, charred back ground, a dead horse on rocks and a particularly strange quiet compliance with the sun on a beach setting keep this film memorable. The acting is less than desirable and simple, but thats what the two actors are portraying of their characters.

Apparently Robert Redford is quoted to say it "the most important American film" i discovered it searching for something else. Its good, not that great and not that important. But would make good argument that possibly within the two years Woodstock erupted and so did the peace movement, it looks like art scene may have been getting sick and tired of their various shenanigans.

If you like odd cinema and some what brave film making this does make a great flick to discuss, but it is boring and filled with so many fade to blacks it actually took me a couple of nights to finish...