Ten Minutes Older: The Cello (2002)

Ten Minutes Older: The Cello Poster

Collection of short films the summaries of which include; a foreign man moving to Italy, getting married and having a child; a four split scene short involving plot-less images of old people with television sets for heads, a beautiful woman having sex, and overall confusion; and an old man reminiscing over his youth.

Summary of "Ten Minutes Older: The Cello"
"Ten Minutes Older: The Cello" is an anthology movie released in 2002, consisting of seven brief movies by various directors, each checking out the style of time from numerous viewpoints. This special cinematic job is a collection of talents and stories, with contributions from directors Bernardo Bertolucci, Mike Figgis, Jiri Menzel, Istvan Szabo, Claire Denis, Volker Schlöndorff, and Jean-Luc Godard. As a counterpart to "Ten Minutes Older: The Trumpet", which was released in the very same year, "The Cello" provides deep reflections on life, history, and the human condition, sewn together by the principle of time passing by.

Sections and Their Directors
Each director in "Ten Minutes Older: The Cello" welcomes the challenge of expressing their unique take on time within the restrictive ten-minute format, producing an abundant tapestry of stories and visual designs. Bernardo Bertolucci's "Histoire d'eaux" checks out the cultural and temporal dislocation experienced by an Indian who travels to Italy, diving into styles of cross-cultural encounters and the circulation of time and water.

Mike Figgis's "About Time 2" presents time from a personal and reflective angle, analyzing the nature of memories and the subjective experience of time. Figgis utilizes split-screens and layered narratives to communicate his message, inviting the audience to consider how past occasions form present understandings.

Jiri Menzel's "Ten Minutes After" adopts a comical tone to interact the concept that important life events do not always line up with our anticipation of them. The brief represents a lead character whose expectations of a romantic encounter are amusingly discredited by the impulses of time.

Istvan Szabo's film, with the thematic title "Ten Minutes Older", assesses childhood and aging, connecting the innocence of youth with the knowledge that comes with age, and the continuous ticking of the clock that unifies all human experiences.

In "Vers Nancy", Claire Denis checks out the philosophical measurements of time, conjuring up discussions on history and the future as 2 characters take part in a thought-provoking discussion throughout a train journey.

Volker Schlöndorff's "The Enlightenment" supplies a historic angle on time through the eyes of a man assessing the changes of the 20th century, highlighting specific and collective memories.

Last But Not Least, Jean-Luc Godard's "Dans le noir du temps" works as an intricate meditation on different temporal aspects-- history, cinema, and individual memory, combining abstract and concrete components to challenge the audience's understanding of time.

Styles and Interpretations of Time
The movie's overarching style of time is analyzed in a myriad of methods, ranging from individual self-questioning to more comprehensive historical and philosophical contemplations. Each director utilizes their unique style to evoke emotions related to nostalgia, regret, anticipation, and enlightenment. "Ten Minutes Older: The Cello" looks into the human relationship with the past, present, and future, representing time as a universal force that governs our lives and experiences.

Cinematographic Styles
The brief movies within the anthology stick out for their diverse cinematographic techniques. From the fluid pacing of Bertolucci's contribution to Figgis's speculative visuals and the conventional storytelling of Menzel, the anthology juxtaposes various filmmaking approaches. Godard's contribution notably presses the bounds of cinematic language, highlighting the directors' liberty to experiment within the scope of the task.

Conclusion
"Ten Minutes Older: The Cello" is a cinematic mosaic that celebrates the diversity of human experience under the unifying aspect of time. By providing vignettes that both challenge and captivate, the film functions as a reflection on the passage and significance of time throughout various cultures, ages, and approaches. It is a thoughtful piece that invites viewers to consider their own perceptions of time, making it a classic and thought-provoking cinematic experience.

Top Cast

  • Valeria Bruni Tedeschi (small)
    Valeria Bruni Tedeschi
    (segment "Histoire d'eaux")
  • Amit Arroz
    (segment "Histoire d'eaux")
  • Tarun Bedi
    (segment "Histoire d'eaux")
  • Maria Ludovica Bernardi
    (segment "Histoire d'eaux")
  • Chiara Mastalli (small)
    Chiara Mastalli
    (segment "Histoire d'eaux")
  • Dominic West (small)
    Dominic West
    Young Man (segment "About Time 2")
  • Alexandra Staden (small)
    Alexandra Staden
    Young Woman (segment "About Time 2")
  • Ildikó Bánsági (small)
    Ildikó Bánsági
    (segment "Ten Minutes After")
  • Jean-Luc Nancy (small)
    Jean-Luc Nancy
    (segment "Vers Nancy")
  • Ana Samardzija
    (segment "Vers Nancy")
  • Alex Descas (small)
    Alex Descas
    (segment "Vers Nancy")