Comments on: Eulogy for New Yorker Films

By: Robot Monkey

Robot Monkey — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:12:48 +0000

Two things: 1)I saw “Aguirre, The Wrath of God” a couple of years ago finally after 16 years(!) of being fascinated by one picture in a “Best of” book my parents owned on foreign films. Seeing the terrible and pronounced visage of Klaus Kinski, I was intrigued and desperately wanted to see what this film was about. But growing up in a rural Texas town. Only 40 or 50 miles from Houston, but what was the chance of my getting access to see this film at the neighborhood video store (where was Netflix when I needed it?) or even trekking into the city to find some speciality store to check it out? Needless to say, I finally saw it and continued my love of Herzog (“Fitzcarraldo” is a great film to watch with as a “loose” companion piece). Sad to think that if it wasn’t for smaller outlets like New Yorker, people might not be exposed to these great films.

2) While I do enjoy the communal experience of viewing these films, there’s a kind of cool exclusiveness to watching this at home. Me personally, I enjoy both. But I definitely enjoy watching an obscure or foreign film late at night (sometimes with an adult beverage) and feeling like I have discovered something. Like I’m part of some small and elite club. Then I can turn around and either excitedly recommend the film to friends with similiar tastes or discover someone else who has seen it as well and discuss it with them.

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By: Suzi Doll

Suzi Doll — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 20:35:48 +0000

Everyone at Facets was deeply saddened by the demise of New Yorker. And, I don’t think it bodes well for foreign film in the U.S.

I think those generations of movie-goers who grew up in the video-DVD era know less and less about foreign film. They tend to buy/rent what they already know to watch in the comfort of their homes, rather than take a chance on something outside their comfort zones. The best way to watch foreign film is on the big screen, where you can give the film your utmost attention. THen afterward, you discuss it with a oompanion or friends. That’s how many of us learned to appreciate, admire, and love foreign film. You don’t do that in the comfort of your home, where you want to relax, eat a snack, and veg out. Movies on demand is just another way to “consume” movies, like a favorite snack, instead of experiencing them as an art form.

And, with fewer theaters out there showing foreign films, fewer college film societies to show them, and less awareness of foreign film among younger audiences, the picture is getting bleaker.

I think the home-viewing revolution was a double-edged sword. It gave us all unlimited access to films to watch in our homes, but in doing so, it has narrowed mainstream tastes and turned movies into a product to be consumed.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 20:06:21 +0000

According to some reports, Jose Lopez, the co-president of New Yorker Films, might have a rescue plan in mind. The money required to buy the library is probably not feasible in these financially strapped times for small distributors like Kino or Facets. IFC Films is probably the only large distributor that could afford the asking price and it would be a good fit considering their successful track record with numerous international films. But the big question is, do today’s moviegoers want to see these revered films from the ’60s, ’70s & ’80s? Probably not. However, New Yorker Films might work better as a MOD service on the internet than as a DVD business or theatrical distributor at this point. I’m sure some agreement will be reached soon.

By: moirafinnie

moirafinnie — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:41:20 +0000

Jeff,
Thanks for writing about this sad event. Do you think that the emerging technology that reportedly will allow downloads of new films directly to one’s laptop or television in the future is likely to make more little known international and independent movies available to those of us who don’t live in big cities? Is there any chance that New Yorker Films might re-emerge in some altered form such as this to still find an audience? I’d love to believe that an audience for the eclectic films that you’ve cited might still be nurtured.

By: JoseM

JoseM — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:19:55 +0000

A true loss. It seems more and more we are closing our doors to international movies. Right now IFC On Theaters On Demand and DVD seems to be the only way to enjoy these movies. The idea of going to a movie theater to see a foreign film is an impossibility to people living outside New York City.