Search - The Forgotten Village (1941) DVD [Remastered Edition] on DVD

Very Authentic

Bart | Montpellier, France | 11/08/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In this day and age of huge hollywood style blockbusters, everything you see on screen seems very scripted and predictible. Plus everyone is better looking than in real life and there are no surprises.

What we sometimes forget is that cinema doesn't have to be this way. In fact in much of the world movies are much more free form and tell a more honest story than the average Bruce Willis shoot em up.

The Forgotten Villiage is a film that reminds us how honest American movies can be. While the storyline about blackmail and murder is a very typical hollywood genere, the way the film was made is anything but.

The producers shot the film in Mexico and used real mexican non professional actors. Then they let them improvise many of the scenes to be more authentic and actually illustate what their daily lives are like.

This makes all the difference in the world - and brings us closer to a real universal global movie experience.

I found the actual drama in the film to be much more exciting than otherwiwse, simply because I felt more connected to the characters.

They seemed like real people, just like you and me.

I applaud films that dare to take a risk like this and I'm happy that this movie was preserved and not forgotten."

The Contrast Between Modernity And Tradition

Deacon | America | 05/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What's better - living life the way your ancestors have for generations. Or, is it better to give up your traditions in favor of modern conveniences, even if they will destroy your way of life forever?

That's the subject of this fictionalized presentation of life in Mexico between the First and Second World Wars.

The deal is that a villiage is temporarily suffering and it's problems can be cured by modern medicine and technology. But, if left to their own devices the problems will resolve themselves - but will cause a lot of short term suffering.

So the villagers have to decide to accept help that will force them to become part of modern Mexican society or reject the help and keep to their traditions even if it will cause some of them to die.

It's very, very thought provoking."

... almost passed

Big Bear Teddy Bear | Big Bear City, CA | 09/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I was 7 years old my Father acquired a photogravure book titled "THE FORGOTTEN VILLAGE". As often as I was allowed I read and reread that book until I grew up and left home, never realizing that all the photographs were extracted from a motion picture.

In the early 1980's while looking through a movie catalog I came across a John Steinbeck VHS tape of a movie having the same title. Suspecting a connection I ordered the film and happily discovred they were the same.

In 2007 because of the tape's age and the frequency with which I viewed it, I began to search for the movie on DVD. I passed over this product for several months due to the erroneous Studio editorial review. The story has absolutely nothing to do with murder and prostitution. It isn't "BY" Burgess Meredith, he was the narrator for the story.

By the time it was restored the film's sound and exposure had greatly deteriorated but one should not bypass acquisition of it for that reason.

The story, cinematography, acting and narration in this film are all superb.

I have enjoyed the drama, family relationships and challenge to antiquated traditional social values in a rural environment in this story for more than 65 years. I strongly recommend it to all."