Inside/Out

AnuncreditedJean-LucGodardproducedthis1997thirdfeaturebythesingularAmericanindependentRobTregenza,andalongwithHungarianfilmmakerBelaTarr,Godardiscertainlyapresidingguruoverthispowerfulifenigmaticviewoflifeinandaroundapsychiatrichospitalsomewhereinrural,snowboundAmerica.ShotbyTregenzahimself(oneofthebestcinematographersontheplanet)inblack-and-white35-millimeter‘Scope—mainlyinextremelylong,choreographedtakesthattranspirewithaminimumofdialoguebutwithanextremelyinventiveandoriginalDolbysoundtrack—thefilmoffersnotsomuchaplotintheusualsenseasaseriesofinterlockingcharactersandeventsgoverned,likethefilm’stitle,bypolarities:soundandimage,interiorandexterior,sanityandmadness,freedomandinstitutionalcaptivity,societyandisolation.Accordingtocluesplantedintheclothesanddecor(especiallythecars),theactionbeginsaround1945andendsinthepresentornearfuture,buttoconfusemattersfurtherthecharactersandtheirbehaviorremainunagingconstants.Tregenza’sbackgroundinexistentialphilosophyserveshimwell:everyshotcomprisesanevent,andmostofthemwereshotonlyonce,inasingletake,allowingchangeandcontingencytoshapethematerial.Artconceivedasbothadventureandconfrontation,Inside/Outrequiresacertainamountofcreativeenergyfromtheaudiencebutgrandlyrepaystheeffort.