"The Saragossa Manuscript" is a surrealist period-costume comedy from 1965 that defies conventions with its outrageous and bewildering narrative. Director Wojciech Has weaves together a complex tapestry of 18th-century Spain, where individual tales and anecdotes intersect in unexpected ways. The film's surrealism lies not only in its bizarre landscapes and characters but also in the jarring juxtaposition of stories that grow out of each other.
The premise revolves around Alfonse Van Worden, a nobleman-soldier played by Zbigniew Cybulski, who becomes embroiled in various adventures during the Napoleonic wars. As he travels through the wilderness, he encounters a grim gallows, has an erotic interlude with Muslim princesses, and is arrested by the Spanish Inquisition. The story takes a series of surreal turns, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.
One of the most striking aspects of "The Saragossa Manuscript" is its lack of irony and self-awareness. Despite its outrageous plot twists and farcical encounters, the film maintains an innocence and refinement that's both captivating and refreshing. The cinematography, shot in crisp monochrome, adds to the film's cult countercultural charm.
Ultimately, "The Saragossa Manuscript" is a head-spinning adventure that resists conventional storytelling. Its narrative chaos is akin to Cervantes or Borges, but with a unique Polish flavor reminiscent of Alejandro Jodorowsky and Terry Gilliam. Whether you find it absurdly hilarious or bewilderingly captivating, this film is a must-see for those who revel in cult comedies and surreal cinema.
The premise revolves around Alfonse Van Worden, a nobleman-soldier played by Zbigniew Cybulski, who becomes embroiled in various adventures during the Napoleonic wars. As he travels through the wilderness, he encounters a grim gallows, has an erotic interlude with Muslim princesses, and is arrested by the Spanish Inquisition. The story takes a series of surreal turns, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.
One of the most striking aspects of "The Saragossa Manuscript" is its lack of irony and self-awareness. Despite its outrageous plot twists and farcical encounters, the film maintains an innocence and refinement that's both captivating and refreshing. The cinematography, shot in crisp monochrome, adds to the film's cult countercultural charm.
Ultimately, "The Saragossa Manuscript" is a head-spinning adventure that resists conventional storytelling. Its narrative chaos is akin to Cervantes or Borges, but with a unique Polish flavor reminiscent of Alejandro Jodorowsky and Terry Gilliam. Whether you find it absurdly hilarious or bewilderingly captivating, this film is a must-see for those who revel in cult comedies and surreal cinema.
I just watched "The Saragossa Manuscript" 
and I'm still trying to wrap my head around it! The way the director weaves together these crazy storylines is like nothing I've seen before 
. It's like he's playing this game of connect-the-dots with reality and fantasy, where one minute you think you know what's going on and then BAM! You're dropped into a whole new world 
.
. It's like a big ol' mess of a narrative that somehow works 
. And can we talk about those cinematography skills? The monochrome shots are giving me all the retro vibes 
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. It's like it's saying, "Hey, you know what? Reality isn't that interesting. Let's try something new!" And in doing so, it creates this sense of wonder and enchantment that's just infectious 
.
. If you're a fan of cult comedies and surreal cinema, then you owe it to yourself to check this out 
. Trust me, your head will spin in the best possible way 
! Wojciech Has really outdone himself with that blend of weird & wonderful tales 
. Give me the surreal madness over some boring, straight-laced flick any day 
but idk if u would even call it funny or not lol some ppl might be like "what?! how did u make dis movie?!" 
they just get more and more weird like the cast of "The Saragossa Manuscript" needs to calm down on the whole gallows and muslim princesses vibe 
. And those black and white visuals are gorgeous! It's like they took all this surreal energy and bottled it up in a beautiful, trippy package 
. Not sure if you'd call it funny or not (depending on your taste), but trust me, it's an experience 
. The cinematography is insane too, i mean who wouldn't want to watch a movie in black and white 
. I've been thinking about it all day though... what does it even mean? Is it just a crazy story or is there something deeper going on? 
it just goes full on surrealist mode and lets the absurdity shine through 
and the cinematography is like, whoa! 
that monochrome look is giving me all the retro vibes and i am HERE. FOR. IT 
. I remember watching this film on my birthday last year (had a pretty surreal celebration too) 
and just being blown away by how unique and wild it was. It's not always easy to follow, but that's part of its charm, right? 
The Polish touch adds an extra layer of weirdness that's really fascinating. I've been thinking about re-watching it now...
. It really adds to the film's cult countercultural vibe. Overall, I think "The Saragossa Manuscript" is a game-changer for fans of surreal cinema and cult comedies. It's not for everyone, but if you're feeling adventurous, it's definitely worth checking out 
. But hey, I think I kinda like the way it does it - no irony or self-awareness, just goes for broke and takes you on this wild ride 
. And that cinematography in black and white is super cool 
the whole "lack of irony" thing just sounds like some hipster trying to be artsy
I mean, who needs traditional storytelling when you can just throw a bunch of wild stuff at the wall and see what sticks? 
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and those Muslim princesses? 
it's like the film is one big surreal dream, but in a good way! 
the cinematography is so crisp and beautiful, especially with that monochrome vibe. i can see why this film would be a cult classic for all the fans of absurd comedy and surreal cinema out there