Jiri Kylian's Car Men

Jiri Kylian's Car Men is a tantalizing mix of dance, film, and drama that narrates its storyline through expressive movements and gestures rather than words. In fact, it's more accurate to categorize it as a dance film, which has been a significant genre in the realm of performing arts. Produced in the early 2006, this film presents an avant-garde interpretation of the classic opera, Carmen by George Bizet.

Directed by Boris Paval Conen and renowned Czech choreographer, Jiří Kylián, the film brings a unique and innovative approach to storytelling. Artists are not required to perform heavily rehearsed dance scripts. Instead, they focus on organically transferring their emotions, evoking dramatic impact on the viewers through abstract dance movements or mime that are designed to explore human sentiments in its raw form. This film is more about the lie of living & the truth of the stage.

The film’s setting takes place in a coal mine, an unorthodox choice for a location but that's exactly what makes it stand out. It's an environment that mirrors the harsh realities of life, the struggle, and the oscillation between hope and despair that people undergo in their daily lives. The coal mining town of Beringen in Belgium serves as the backdrop where the film unfolds.

In this film, four main characters - Carmen, Don Jose, Escamillo, and Micaela - play their roles superbly along with a mixed ensemble of professional ballet dancers and members of the local population. In a shift from the traditional narrative of the opera, the storyline of Car Men parallels the complex human relationships and tumultuous dynamics of the characters. The characters' complicated relationships with their surroundings are beautifully portrayed through dance, music, and the incredibly cinematography.

Kylian, famous for his distinctive choreographic style, combines elements of both contemporary and classical ballet to create something entirely unique. The dance sequences are structured yet remain spontaneous, a factor that steers away from conventionality and infuses elasticity in the portrayal of characters, taking the audience on a remarkable visual journey.

While humor and irony provide a light-hearted essence to the work, there's something deeper beyond the satirical scenes. The narrative accentuates the juxtaposition of man versus nature and more implicitly, the complex intertwining of modernized civilization with an inescapable industrial past. This not only renders the movie groundbreaking in its concept but also much more thought-provoking than typical films.

Making successful use of George Bizet’s classic score as well as original new music, a sound collage by Dirk Haubrich, the viewer gets a surreal, immersive viewing experience. In fact, music is used as a dialogue in this dance film that complements the powerful visual narratives. It enhances the viewer's emotional engagement and forms a continuously echoing reflection of the situational realities of the characters.

The cinematography of the film, Car Men, is remarkable, with its gray and moody aesthetic adding an otherworldly effect to the narrative. It creates a visually stunning dreamscape which emphasizes and interacts with the brutal honesty of the dancers' movements. High shot angles, diversified lenses, and innovative camera angles further enhance the intensity of the film, creating a distant yet intimate experience for the viewers.

"Jiri Kylian's Car Men" effortlessly blends the mundane with the dreamlike, resulting in a film that is haunting and visually arresting. Captivating with its unique dance-film narrative, striking cinematography, and profoundly moving performances, it invites viewers on an unforgettable exploration of human emotion, the power of dance, and the enduring struggles of life. The film is distinctive, offering a cinematic experience that transcends the ordinary norms of storytelling and plunges deep into the realms of profound arts. It is indeed a must-watch for enthusiasts of contemporary dance and film.