Gabriela Filippi (Romania)

Lima 2009

In my relation to film criticism, first of all I am a reader. I read criticism because, besides the fact that I am truly interested in art and its mechanisms, behind the texts I like, I seek the portrait of the accomplished humanist : erudite and precise, permanently aware of his responsibility and the fact that he handles a very delicate matter, which might be harmed by any excess. The art critic lays his experience and sensitivity on the line, however subtle and without infatuation, preventing his own personality from standing in the way of the artist or the work under examination.

Often I am highly affected by the insightful ways the questions raised by a film can be rephrased in an article. For me this capacity to enter human nature and art is the result of work and education. Such a refinement of the critic’s artistic taste will be needed as long as there will continue to be new films by auteurs interested in film aesthetics. The critic’s duty is to facilitate the uninitiated, yet curious viewer’s learning for these kinds of cinema.

I love André Bazin’s writings, packed out with preliminary elucidations which settle the terms stating the matter, and the exposition and apology of the eventual counterarguments. In his whole creation one senses the polemical spirit of the author, the ever-aware realization by Bazin. I find his contentions highly righteous, and their value keeps popping up as I carry on learning.

Sometimes I feel like my interest in film criticism only started at random. However, come to think of it, my passion for film and writing about cinema was prefaced by some of my passions : Ever since I was young I had the inclination to introspect, the innate sense to analyze any event, and the interest in art. Writing is primarily a way to shed some daylight upon my thoughts, to clearly display my conceits before my eyes. I am twenty-one years old and know that hard work awaits me, yet I am interested and willing to do it.