Depicting the outset and transformation of our world, Orson Welles’ 1942 The Magnificent Ambersons, which deals with the all too relevant theme of progress and its effects on society, interweaves the personal with the political to tell a love story devoid of happy ending.
With all the jealousy, guilt trips, betrayal, scheming and a big and round Oedipus complex, Orson Welles’ second film is pure Greek tragedy: timeless and profound. And yet The Magnificent Ambersons is such a modern piece of storytelling. It deals with an issue that, although 200 years old, is still unsolved. How do we reconcile technological innovation and progress with the natural human need for slow and guided adaptation? The world changes and if we are to survive, we must change too, but peace of mind is essential for our sanity. Continue reading
TOWARDS A GREATER CANON 