Visual Index ~ Forgotten Masterpiece / Forbidden Games
Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 11:20AM 
I realized after reading the collected articles on René Clément's Forbidden Games that Hit Me With Your Best Shot sometimes works best when you (i.e. the reader) have already seen the film in question. Which presents a problem for me as the host because I love to see pictures I'd never seen (like this one). So I've included the "best" shots, according to our wide-eyed blogging collective, after the jump so you can "see" the best shots after you've watched the movie. Which I urge you to do.
It's available on Instant Watch and it's only 85 minutes long. Well... 95+ because you have to account for the crying and the recovery and such.
After the jump, the film's best shots in linear order. Click on the picture and you'll be staring right at the corresponding article.
FORBIDDEN GAMES (1952)
Best Shots According To Our Panel
Reader Comments (8)
I agree with you Nat. For this series, I'm much more interested in doing films I haven't seen before. Don't get discouraged by the lesser participation for the more obscure choices. They often result in some of the best articles.
Why don't you star a new series specifically for movies you haven't seen? You say this a lot, that you need to see movies from this particular era, by that acclaimed director, etc. For the best shots, I think it's best when you've already seen the movie and you know it well, so you can dig deep in the visuals only.
cal roth -- Yes, I agree.
I think the problem with trying to enforce a "only movies that are familiar" rule for this series is that you have no way of determining what anybody else has seen, and unless you end up going the Star Wars/Avengers route - and God, please don't do that - there's no way to be consistent with that. The way it's been going has been great, I think, and if that means that there are Wizard of Oz weeks interspersed with Pink Narcissus weeks, at least you're giving it some extra flavor, and making people aware of something they've maybe never thought about seeing. Which is, to me, one of the finest parts of film blogging.
I don't think you shuold undervalue the fact that just by talking about it and putting its title in a heading, you've made sure that hundreds of people who had never previously heard of Forbidden Games now have. At worst, a dozen of them will now seek it out and discover a masterpiece, and as a result it will be a little less obscure. This is a win.
I appreciate all of these comments. It's definitely a balancing act. I always wish the series were more popular and the big ticket movies help with that but I personally think I need the mix so as to stay interested. Perhaps one solution might be to choose big ticket movies that *I* haven't seen that other people have.
Squasher -- you're right. one of my favorite episodes was RAISE THE RED LANTERN. I found that film so interesting and loved reading every single one of the pieces and that was partially because the movie was new to me.
Cal -- i shall think it over. definitely need to make it a project somehow to clear up some of these holes in my film knowledge.
First, I agree with you that it is more fun to watch movies we've never seen. Second, I saw Forbidden Games maybe three years ago and it was very effective. The kids are so cute and innocent. I feel like the film could not be made today without it being sappy and Hollywood-ized. Forbidden Games is definitely in my Top 10 French films, of which I have seen very many so that's saying a lot. It was nominated and should have won Best Motion Picture Story at the Oscars for 1954. Great movie that I'm glad is being recognized.
Here's a favorite image: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DVmF15P70Iw/UO061fkNpwI/AAAAAAAACUA/AovBClq3jEM/s1600/forbidden%2Bgames.jpg
Sean -- thanks for sharing this. I always hope more people who aren't writing will still share a photo somehow like that. good choice too. unlike what anyone else chose.