Roman Polanski's THE TENANT

[Mike 03]

In a recent discussion in the lounge about movies that made us sad, someone talked about Polanski's 1976 film THE TENANT, the third film in his so-called "Apartment Trilogy." I mentioned that I had wanted to see it since it came out, but was too young, and my parents would not let me see it.

This person gave me a link to some used copies, and I ordered one, and watched it this afternoon, and just want to agree with this person that Polanski's THE TENANT is fascinating, sad, depressing, intricate and a very, very great film that for some reason enough attention has not been paid to. IMHO it is superior even to REPULSION and ROSEMARY'S BABY, and to most of the films he directed that came after this period.

I wish I could recall the name of the DUer so I could thank him/her personally for reviving the memory of THE TENANT.

What a damned mesmerizing, sad, fascinating film.

[DerekG]

1. One of the ten most disturbing films I've seen

I can't recall a more trenchant examination of a man's dissolution.

The last image has haunted me for years.

[MilesColtrane]

10. Have you seen "Coming Apart"?

A disturbing movie from 1969 starring Rip Torn, a year before he beat the shit out of Norman Mailer in "Maidstone"

[rug]

2. You could have rented it.

[Mike 03]

3. It was seven bucks, and I want other people that I know to see it if they want to, and

hopefully to discuss it. I just paid twenty bucks for "Crazy Heart", it seems very reasonable to pay seven dollars for "The Tenant."

[Mike 03]

4. By the way, there is no place whatsoever to rent a movie like this

in this small town I live in. If that were so, it would probably cost nearly as much as it cost to buy the damn thing online.

[david13]

5. The Fearless Vampire Killers got me started with him. Long ago.

The library here has The Tenant. I'll have to try imdb for a synopsis and see. The copies are out, I can see how long the hold wait is for it.
Thanks for the tip.
dc

[tigereye]

7. Vampire Killers is much more fun!

:rofl:

[david13]

8. Point of Order. Polanski's Fearless Vampire Killers 1967, or the 2009

Vampire Killers, aka Lesbian Vampire Killers?
dc

[tigereye]

14. hmm, Fearless Vampire Killers

although my husband and I watched the other one (I think) for a laugh.

[cemaphonic]

11. I didn't like that one

Parodying Hammer Horror has the same problem as parodying Bond Films or Lovecraft's stories - the originals are so over-the-top to begin with, but also have a certain charm that the parodies just don't capture. Plus, it's mostly just not that funny to me.

The Jewish vampire gag though, that was a classic. Even having heard about it and knowing it was coming, it still made me laugh.

[tigereye]

6. one of the creepiest films ever!

Images from it have been stuck in my head for years. Very Kafkan.

[Mike 03]

12. Yes, it left me with this feeling there was a philosophy at stake, but I failed to

comprehend it.

There are so many themes in play that it becomes difficult to isolate them.

If I had to pick one, it would be that this is a film about a feeling of isolation that transmogrifies into desolation. A theme I can identify with.

[proteus_lives]

9. Creepy film from a creepy pedo.

[tigereye]

13. well, even someone morally bankrupt can still make a good film..

art and morality (or even good judgment) don't always mix