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Rating: Controversial, loved, hated, debated. "Legends of the Fall," the fourth feature film by American director Edward Zwick, is probably his most divisive film among critics and audiences. Why? Excessive drama, overly syrupy sentimentality, lengthiness, and above all, a weak and implausible story. All of this is understandable, even though these are rather trivial accusations that overlook one of the most important aspects of a cinematic work: the ability to evoke emotion. While this isn't the sole indicator of a film's success, it can't simply be dismissed, despite the undeniable strength with which "Legends of the Fall" lingers on this aspect.
The story takes place on a Montana farm on the brink of World War I. The arrival of Susannah (Julia Ormond), the fiancée of Samuel (Henry Thomas), literally shatters the simple existence of the Ludlow family and, in particular, Samuel's two brothers, played by Brad Pitt and Aidan Quinn.
Starting from a traditional microcosm strongly tied to the work ethic and faith in God, Edward Zwick brings to the big screen a tale of emotions and their implications on human life and behavior. Detailing all the events, twists, and turns of the film would be reductive, as Zwick's work (1994) should be viewed in its entirety, with its excessive lengthiness and seemingly banal ability to present a complex and multifaceted story.
It's undeniable that "Legends Of The Fall" (its original title) has its flaws: the most evident being the sometimes overly forced pursuit of emotion at all costs, which ends up being self-serving, though in some sequences it appears appropriate and fitting to the film's overall tone. Yet, "Legends of the Fall" possesses the narrative strength of a passionate and captivating story that manages to be poetic, evocative, emotional, and also insightful in its exploration of the dark mechanisms of feelings. The image of the family emerging from Zwick's work is a depiction in the "modern west" of those upheavals that plague relationships in today's society. A kind of forewarning of what humanity would experience in the following century.
Academy Award 1995 for Best Cinematography.
"Forever was never long enough."
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