A Matter of Life and Death (Powell, Pressburger, 1946)

A Matter of Life and Death (Powell, Pressburger, 1946) - TSPDT #126

A WWII fighter pilot escapes death due to bad weather and appeals his own death for falling in love.

The story is quite straightforward, and at some points already quite campy. There is a certain feelgood tone that reminded me of Capra's "Wonderful Life" - it is a little more highbrow though, and confronts transatlantic tensions between the English and the rest of the world. At the end the film felt a little too academic when in their argument the doctor and the teacher tried to outquote each other. Maybe this is good for romantic kitsch but it felt a little strange.

I also felt that the directors might have taken the giggle at some of the more kitschy approaches to some of the scenes - the little "Technicolor" remark of the angel was quite effective there.

The colors and the cinematography are gorgeous again and especially the opening with the clouds "washing" over Europe was amazing. Some of the more epic shots also looked great, although the matte painting was a bit too obvious - but in intention they worked really well.

Also, definitively one of the most amazing hairdressings (with the appropriate lighting) I have ever seen in a movie. Sort of a mixture of Eraserhead and medieval church painting.

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