wclk: : Different Year, Same 'Marienbad' (2009-07-03)

MOVIES

Different Year, Same 'Marienbad'

When it came out in 1961, Alain Resnais' Last Year at Marienbad perplexed and excited audiences with its surrealistic storytelling. John Powers has a review of the film's Criterion Collection re-release. Fresh Air from WHYY

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Alain Resnais' completely unconventional film Last Year at Marienbad premiered in 1961, winning the Golden Lion at that year's Venice Film Festival. Its screenplay — written by Alain Robbe-Grillet from his novel of the same title — earned an Oscar nomination.

Constantly alluded to, and frequently parodied, the stylized film adheres to no conventional narrative structure. Film critic Pauline Kael labeled Marienbad an "aimless disaster," but it has since come to be regarded as a milestone in film history.

The Criterion Collection has re-released the film on DVD. John Powers has a review.

Last Year at Marienbad

Director: Alain Resnais
Genre: Foreign
Running Time: 94 minutes

Unrated

With: Delphine Seyrig, Giorgio Albertazzi