(slight spoilers)
Gerry could be nominated for 'The Most Boring Movie Ever Award' and it would have a fair chance of winning in this category. So, if you'd like to have yourself a nice popcorn-munching movie night, Gerry isn't your thing. Yet, it has a unique artistic merit, which is worth a patient watch for those who are into that kind of an experience.
First of all, Sant abandons all Hollywood clichés that would make this movie an exciting survival story, and instead focuses on creating the atmosphere of getting lost and being destined to die.
On a deeper level, I don't even think Gerry has an actual plot in the real world. I had to realize that literally nothing happens during the whole movie. The two characters don't have any meaningful conversation, the hiking has no point whatsoever, since all they do is walk in a certain direction for a while and then turn back. All along, it's just the two (?) guys and the endless desert, the long- long walking, the dust, the thirst. And the not too motivated struggle for their lives, which consists of climbing up and down, going here and there, kicking some rocks. They seem to give up before it's even started.
In my opinion, what we see are no physical, but mental landscapes, no outer, but an inner journey. And not too guys, but only one, and he is Gerry. Trapped in the infinite prison of his own deserted mind and lost identity.
The scenes often show the two Gerrys as the reflection, duplicate or shadow of each other. Sometimes, only one of them can be seen, as if he were alone (he is).
I don't think the movie is an allegory that can be directly translated to the inner struggling of a man, it rather transmits a feeling similar to that struggle. Because if you're lost in the desert, even knowing what to look for is hard. Should it be water, or high lands? East, west, north, south? No directions, nothing that could feed the spirit of life and assure you that your trying has any point. Exactly what I feel these days, looking for the right track.
I have no sensible explanation for the ending or why it is so important to split Gerry into two characters. All I have is impressions, but good ones. Sant is trying to grasp something that is difficult to express and is brave to do that despite all natural demands of the viewer.
Gerry could be nominated for 'The Most Boring Movie Ever Award' and it would have a fair chance of winning in this category. So, if you'd like to have yourself a nice popcorn-munching movie night, Gerry isn't your thing. Yet, it has a unique artistic merit, which is worth a patient watch for those who are into that kind of an experience.
First of all, Sant abandons all Hollywood clichés that would make this movie an exciting survival story, and instead focuses on creating the atmosphere of getting lost and being destined to die.
On a deeper level, I don't even think Gerry has an actual plot in the real world. I had to realize that literally nothing happens during the whole movie. The two characters don't have any meaningful conversation, the hiking has no point whatsoever, since all they do is walk in a certain direction for a while and then turn back. All along, it's just the two (?) guys and the endless desert, the long- long walking, the dust, the thirst. And the not too motivated struggle for their lives, which consists of climbing up and down, going here and there, kicking some rocks. They seem to give up before it's even started.
In my opinion, what we see are no physical, but mental landscapes, no outer, but an inner journey. And not too guys, but only one, and he is Gerry. Trapped in the infinite prison of his own deserted mind and lost identity.
The scenes often show the two Gerrys as the reflection, duplicate or shadow of each other. Sometimes, only one of them can be seen, as if he were alone (he is).
I don't think the movie is an allegory that can be directly translated to the inner struggling of a man, it rather transmits a feeling similar to that struggle. Because if you're lost in the desert, even knowing what to look for is hard. Should it be water, or high lands? East, west, north, south? No directions, nothing that could feed the spirit of life and assure you that your trying has any point. Exactly what I feel these days, looking for the right track.
I have no sensible explanation for the ending or why it is so important to split Gerry into two characters. All I have is impressions, but good ones. Sant is trying to grasp something that is difficult to express and is brave to do that despite all natural demands of the viewer.