Review – The Hourglass Sanatorium (1973) directed by Wojciech Jerzy Has.
Watched on August 20th, 2023
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Certainly one of the most magical movie experiences for a variety of reasons. Maybe the highlight being that I watched this with a group of friends because for one of them, Ethan, it was his favorite movie of all time that he wanted to show us (and that I promised to watch as part of that Film Club merch promise). However, Ethan had told us about how this movie was not very easy to find, and the only places you could watch it was a pretty low quality rip on YouTube, or on Eastern European Movies in similarly poor quality. But when he first told me that this was his movie pick, I did some research, and managed to find an online site selling a seemingly legit Blu-ray of The Hourglass Sanatorium in its full region-free glory. As an avid movie collector, I bought one for myself, but had a surprise in store: I got him a copy as well. Truly one of the more special moments not only being able to share this experience with him watching his favorite film, but being able to gift that movie to him for easily-accessible watches from here on out.
Now to talk about the actual movie, I don't think I've ever seen anything like this movie. I've described films as dreamlike in the past, but this might be the first movie that actually, truly, genuinely captures what it's like to dream. Ending up in random places/situations without remembering how you got there or why you're there, yet throughout all these seemingly disconnected scenarios, there's still occasional familar throughlines. Somehow, this movie captured that feeling in a way nothing else has before, and I was absolutely floored by that.
Visually, it's also spectacular. Maybe the most interesting movie I've seen lately, strictly speaking on visual appeal. Every set and scene is so rustic and detailed in its ruined nature, but also the most beautiful purples and greens illuminate some settings without being too harsh or dominant. Everything is so carefully crafted in ways I can't even begin to fathom. And on top of that, the camera is used in such perfect and inventive ways, sneaking through environments yet capturing them fully.
Funnily enough, if you asked me what was going on at pretty much any point in the movie, I probably couldn't have given you a coherent or logical answer. Yet strangely, I never once found myself bored, uninvested, or unengaged despite having little idea what was happening. But after some personal thought and discussion with friends, I'm piecing things together and slowly realizing just how genius and thematically dense this movie is. Not only that, but as a Jew, this movie really speaks to me on so many levels. It manages to capture so many feelings about the Jewish experience in so many ways, ways that are really touching and hit me deep in my core. It's been a while since something has touched me so spiritually, beyond just pure emotion. I think I'm going to have a deep connection with this film for years to come.
I think this is certainly one of the best movies I've seen, not just recently, but ever. Truly happy that I was able to find a Blu-ray for this, because it's a beautiful film that should be seen by many in its HD glory. I already wanna rewatch this movie, it's that good. Thank you, Ethan Cole, for sharing this incredible movie with us :)
Check out the original review posted on Letterboxd here.
