This is what I wrote on Amazon last year about "Betrayal."
A Masterpiece: No play will ever surpass this look at infidelity, friendship, and trust
February 25, 2007
By Mimi Tanner "Secrets of Flirting.com" (Texas, USA)
"Three people, intertwined by friendship, marriage, and work, live with the realities and consequences of the extra-marital affair between two of them. The story is told in reverse, covering a nine-year period. This is one of those plays and films that only gets better with repeated viewing.
"Over the years, more and more questions have come to mind that compel a repeated viewing of the movie (or reading of the play) in the hope of finding the answers. On some points, the movie is remains as unfathomable as Mona Lisa's smile.
"The acting in this movie is beyond wonderful. When you read the play, you can appreciate even more how much the actors do to portray the author's intentions and to make the film such a masterpiece.
"I never get tired of this film - it is a marvel of genius on the part of the playwright Harold Pinter, the director, and all three actors. It is also a wonderful and restorative retreat from much of what passes for entertainment on television and in movies as well. This movie must be seen far more than one time to fully appreciate it."
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Okay so I would change the "Mona Lisa" comment but you get the point.... This play leaves my normal "writing ability" in the dust due to being in such awe of every facet of this - the play, the performances, the perfection of the fact that this movie exists and that I'm lucky enough to know about it. And thankfully unlike many movies, it endures repeated, and I mean REPEATED viewings.
I could go on and on about "Betrayal" and be a lot more specific. Enjoyment of a film is a really personal thing in some cases, this one being one in particular. Why isn't it on DVD yet? It also never shows on television. The only way to see it is to buy the few VHS copies that are around.
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Wow! I must see this. Pinter was a voice of conscience against the Iraq war and other atrocities, and one of the twentieth century's great playwrights.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favourite plays is Pinter's The Caretaker. It's also one of my favourite movies. Financed on a shoestring budget by Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, it features Donald Pleasence as the tramp, Alan Bates as the owner of a partly restored Regency Terrace house in London, and Robert Shaw as his intellectually retarded brother and house caretaker. Crisp dialogue and brilliant acting. I occasionally listen to my vinyl LP of the soundtrack. Highly recommended.
Gordon, I would really like to hear what you think of "Betrayal" after you see it. I'm sure you will love it. I am going to make it a point to see "The Caretaker" on your recommendation.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that you mention vinyl LPs of a soundtrack. There was a time when you could get entire movies or plays on LP.