Film Her Her Film

Los Angeles: Playing tonight at the Egyptian Theater is the extraordinary THE DARK MIRROR by Robert Siodmak. A symphony of interior grays (like all Siodmak), an astonishing double role––and roll––as Olivia de Havilland plays twin sisters through Milton Krasner's double-printed trick cinematography. De Havilland utilizes every line in her face and body independently, contre independence. In this film the usual relationship of director/actress/cinematographer is destroyed: Siodmak-de Havilland-Krasner are laboratory partners at work elaborating a science of psychology through eye and script. All codes of cinema are questioned by this film. The medium shot psychoanalyzes the close-up (two divided by one, multiplied by two) and the close-up the reverse shot. A film that makes you think twice with every composition.

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