The Inner Life Of Martin Frost: An Imagination On Fire

The Inner Life Of Martin Frost: An Imagination On Fire
directed, produced and written by Paul Auster

The Inner Life of Martin Frost is a serious film.

It must be serious, because there is very little music to augment the action, and the interaction between the characters.

There are only four actors, which further informs on the serious nature of the words, the ideas put forth.

This is a serious film about the inner life of a writer, a life where reality, whatever that is, is constantly being interrupted, augmented by the creative artistic mind that can never fully "turn off."

Fantasy becomes a quasi reality for the author, Martin Frost (Paul Auster}. And this dual existence is what Paul Auster tries to convey in 92 minutes.

Does he succeed?

That is for each viewer to answer. For me, just understanding what the film is about, was enough to make it worthwhile. Even though it isn't perfect, the casting of Sophie Auster as Anna James doesn't work, because Sophia radiates wealth, sophistication, the trademark of an upper class woman, rather than the homeless waif she is trying to be. And the repetition of Martin at the end of every sentence Claire (Rene Jacob) utters, is annoying.

But who cares? The ideas conveyed carry the film, and these ideas are very serious, They grapple with everyday notions of sanity, reality and the consequences of the confusion between the two that
touch the mundane lives of artists. Both those who " make it," and those who don't.

I recommend this film for its intelligence, its presentation. Even though the dialogue is weak and the casting not quite right. The quietness of the few moments of the ebb and flow of this film make it a unique and intense experience.

Linda Z