“I’m 42 years old and I’m as lazy as my first report card said I was…
”I discovered Guy Maddin, a Canadian writer and filmmaker, browsing at Eddie Brandt’s Saturday Matinee video store (back before DVDs). Careful was the film I chose because it had such a bold description on the front of the Kino Video video box: “Dazzlingly funny. A one-of-a-kind wonder!”. I rented it and watched it that night. The description did not exaggerate. Careful is a faux-kitch remake of the German “Alpine Film” crossed with the classic Expressionist film style.
“Who the hell was this Guy Maddin?” I thought.
That was over 30 years ago. Now, I cherish every goddamn thing he makes. Guy Maddin is a unique filmmaker in that instead of looking forward for his inspiration, he looks to the past, primarily the silent film. He is sui generis.
From the Atelier Tovar: Selected Writings is Maddin’s first book. It is a collection of Journal entries that cover 1987-2002, along with a selection of his film reviews and treatments for four films (including the previously mentioned “Careful”). The journal entries vary from personal struggles to practical film production challenges. He is quite candid about his faults and worries that he will be a lonely person his whole life. Reading is a constant in his life (he is a very bright and intelligent person).
“I would like to live life to the fullest for twelve months. What does this mean? This: I would like to exercise as much as possible. I would like to read voluminously. Most importantly, I would like to work hard, hard, hard of film and all related areas. Finally, I would like to solve my long-standing problems with loneliness.”
Maddin’s reviews are often funny and incisive. I think he could have had a career as a film journalist. This makes sense because he’s someone who seems to have seen every film ever made before 1950. And if you are a film lover, it makes watching his films especially fun since you see the scenes or moments from classic films he is quoting.
Atelier Tover features a perfect cover illustration: slightly old-fashioned flowery design with a cutout featuring a scene from Maddin’s film, Twilight of the Ice Nymphs (a favorite of mine). The book, a trade paperback, is 235 pages and was published by Coach House Books in 2004. The book’s cover design is by Darren Wershler-Henry. This trade paperback was made with care and is a perfect complement to the fascinating journal entries, reviews, and film treatments it contains
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- More about Guy Maddin here. He maintains a fun Instagram page here
- Coach House Books website here.
- If you want to see if you are ready for Guy Maddin’s unique combination of kitsch, pulp, romance and expressionism try his short film “Sissy Boy Slap Party” on YouTube.