Rekopis znaleziony w Saragossie (1965)

writing as a fan of the book: "The Manuscript Found in Saragossa"
If you've read the book "The Manuscript Found in Saragossa" you know that it starts super strong then devolves into a boorish don quixote book 3 attempt of some kind. But the opening is so freaking strong its hard not to be impressed (and sadly disappointed when it loses steam).

this movie just doesnt have visual or dramatic power thats worthy of the source material. If you dont believe me - just read the first third of "Diary Found on the Road to Saragossa" and you will realize how mediocre this film is. The book (the first third or so) is phenomenal 6 or 7 star classic material.

Three solid hours of amazement!
Yes, that's right. The running time of this 1965 film is 182 minutes and as is the case with Seven Samurai, not one minute of the whole time is boring. The late Jerry Garcia of Grateful Dead fame counted this as one of, if not his favorite film and it's easy to see why.

Adhering to the structure of the novel on which it's based, the film presents the viewer with tales within tales--sometimes as many as six layers deep. For male viewers, it helps that there is an eye-popping assortment of astoundingly beautiful women, but even without the eye candy this is a rare treat.

The original novel on which the film's based was published in 1804 by Jan Potocki and centers on the title work, a seemingly ageless manuscript, as it is discovered by the main character, Alfonso van Warden, a Belgian officer during what then appeared to be the endless series of wars that plagued the European continent in which almost all countries were engaged. He finds the manuscript in Spain, and in Spain is where all the film's action's set. Most, if not nearly all tales that comprise the work contain elements of the supernatural--either ghosts or dead men who reappear as living ones, or demons in the form of alluring women.

Many of the tales focus on men seducing women, or vice versa. The recreation of a culture completely outside that of Poland by a Polish film director is admirable for its day, time, and location (considering that Poland in the 60s was not exactly a wealthy nation), and it's truly odd to see people dressed in Spanish garb speak Polish! Nevertheless, the film is spellbinding, charming, enthralling, enticing, and gloriously entertaining.

When the end of the film seems to come full cycle back to the beginning, the viewer begins to wonder if perhaps all this has been a dream...or if the manuscript has magical powers that defy rational analysis...or if, perhaps, all that we know is fantasy after all.

A marvelous piece of entertainiment, and one that should not be missed by Deadheads, former hippies, fans of the surreal, European film buffs, and those who just plain love film. Brilliant, delightful, mesmerizing, fantastic, and great!

Wow!
I just finished the 3 hours that it takes to see this movie. It was an incredible experience. I have rarely seen a story so convoluted -- so made up of stories within stories. . .

In the middle of a battle in Spain during the Napoleonic wars, two soldiers from opposite sides are suddenly entranced by a manuscript. They sit together like brothers, and begin to read the story of a captain of the Waloon Guards trying to cross the mountains into Spain -- over and over again, he has experiences with two ghosts? demons? whatever? in the form of two beautiful women who express love for him. Over and over, he wakes up under a gallows with corpses. Very creepy. As he tries to get over the high pass for the next few days, we experience with him the stories he tells, along with the stories of people he meets, and stories of people within those stories, and stories of people within the stories of the people who are within the stories . . . . oh forget all that. This is one movie that just has to be seen to be believed. It is well worth the 3 hours. It is hard to explain how a movie can be frightening, funny, mysterious, etc, all at the same time. So just see it! ADDENDUM - one week later: I should mention that for two nights after I saw this, I had terrible nightmares. Then, a few nights ago, my husband finally saw the movie, and had the first terrifying nightmare of his life (in his dream, he woke up under the gallows where the hero is often awakening in this film). So, those of you who are familiar with the story will understand just how disconcerting that may be -- given the role of dreams within this movie. So, I wanted to add that you should only see this movie if you can handle that it attaches itself to some deep architypes, and may have distressing effects!