Druga Strana Wellesa

[Tony]

'Druga Strana Wellesa' or "The Other Side of Orson Welles" is a terrific documentary. I've just received a copy from one of the directors, Daniel Rafaelic, and it's a very nice addition to that group of documentaries focussing on Welles's work in other countries, this one involving his time in Zagreb. Welles did both directing and acting there, and there are many Croation talking heads discussing working with him, and a special guest: Jean Moreau, who is very passionate about Welles. The film also includes long portions of an interview Welles did for television in the late 70s, which is very good and which has not been seen since it's broadcast. The original score is also haunting and inspired, and when it becomes available on DVD, I will post it on the News page. I would highly reccommend it as a worthy sibling of "It's All True", "The Well", "Rosabella" and others of that quality.

It's a real labour of love.

[Glenn Anders]

Sounds wonderful, tony.

Congratulations in managing to procure it!

Glenn

[Tony]

The other day I received some information from Daniel Rafaelic, one of the co-directors of the documentary, about the dvd release:

"The DVD is not out yet (here in the Balkans, things are a little bit more complicated on the issue of publishing DVD's of Croatian films). However, it's in preparation, and I can tell you that it will contain the whole Welles interview (1h 30 min. long!!!), as well as a lot of material that just didn't make it in the film - I will let you know when the time comes."

Good news indeed, and I will let Wellesnet members know as well.

:;):

[Tony]

The Croation Connection continues: here's a part of Lawrence's blog post (in case you missed it) that informs us about yet another Croation documentary on Welles's Croation years:


"Also at AFI is the world premiere of "Searching for Orson," a documentary by Croatian filmmakers Jakov and Dominik Sedlar.

The Croatian connection is no surprise to Welles scholars and admirers who know that Welles spent his declining years -- despite being married to another woman -- with a beautiful, exotic and much younger Croatian actress-sculptress-writer, Oja Kodar, who helped write many of his scripts and appeared in his films.

Naturally, Kodar gave her fellow countrymen access to her Welles film archives and herself for an interview. The Sedlars return the favor by never mentioning Welles' wife or the battles Kodar has had with one of Welles' surviving daughters over the ownership of his most legendary unfinished film, "The Other Side of the Wind."

"Orson" devotes much of its running time to this love affair, ignoring nearly all of Welles' early life and career. By default then, this is a film about Welles' late life and the saga of "Other Side." In an interview, Bogdanovich insists that "Other Side" is the one film of Welles' many unfinished projects that could be completed without the master and indeed that Welles once asked him to do so after his death. (Bogdanovich plays dual roles in this film as its narrator and an interviewer, which confuses the issue of the film's point of view.)

At the first screening Thursday night, Dominik Sedlar claimed that Showtime is poised to sign documents to fund completion of the film by Bogdanovich but was vague about the ownership of the footage. But hope springs eternal. "Orson" contains much tantalizing footage from "Other Side," originally shot about 36 years ago, but it appears in a disjointed manner, making any critical judgment impossible.

The film's other "revelation" is that Welles had a grandson he never knew existed. Daughter Rebecca Welles Manning, who died in 2004, apparently had an illegitimate son, Marc, she gave up for adoption. This fact actually does appear in McBride's book but isn't given as much weight as it is in this film. Marc appears onscreen, his face unmistakably reminiscent of his grandfather's. Tragically, a car crash has impaired his mental facilities.

Of the talking heads, Steven Spielberg offers the most cogent and articulate assessment of Welles' greatness and his influence on current image-makers. Paul Mazursky and cameraman Gary Graver, among others, supply amusing anecdotes but never fully put their finger on what made him great.

The film mentions things like Welles' belief that he was Jewish despite all evidence to the contrary but never follows up. Nor does it get to the heart of why so many projects were left unrealized. Nevertheless, "Orson" is often fascinating. Nothing about Welles was ordinary, and this film does capture the love and admiration so many people still maintain for this Renaissance man, who was so adept in radio, stage, film, art and the art of living.

Directors: Jakov Sedlar, Dominik Sedlar; Screenwriter: Dominik Sedlar; Producer: Jakov Sedlar; Executive producers: Richard Weiner, Stephen Ollendorff; Directors of photography: Gary Graver, Zeljko Gubervic, Igor Sunara; Editor: Zdravko Borko.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter