Saturday, March 7, 2009

I Know Where I'm Going! (1945)--4/5

In "I Know Where I'm Going!," Joan Webster (Wendy Hiller) never makes it to where she's going. Namely, it’s Kiloran, a Scottish Isle accessible only by small boat. If Powell and Pressburger's films weren't so unique, it could be said that they subvert expectations. Broadly, “I Know Where I’m Going” is a romance, an appraisal of small-town traditions, and a seafaring adventure tale. But it really has no precedent. The only subsequent film that calls it to mind is "Local Hero," and that's mostly due to the similar Scottish setting and easygoing magical realism.

From the beginning, Powell and Pressburger's technique mirrors their heroine's situation. The opening credits, in a proto-Dogme 95 style, are part of the opening shots—on the side of a wagon, on a chalkboard, and so on. This integration, involving detailed planning on the part of the filmmakers, hints at Joan's mapped-out life. Later, fog and other natural leitmotifs underline her state of mind.

Joan is on the way to be married to a never-seen industrial magnate on the island. Typical Highland weather (fog and gales, mostly) forces her to stay on the main island for days. It’s here that she meets Torquil (Roger Livesey), a sailor unconcerned with rushing to Kiloran, as long as he’s on leave. They meet in a scene of amazing restraint, considering what a major force in Joan’s life he’ll become. It’s just one of many convincing elements of “I Know Where I’m Going!” With this introduction, the final moments of the film are made predictable. Everything in between is still up for grabs.


Ignoring the plot, which is truly charming, “I Know Where I’m Going!” is a compelling travelogue—always a plus for a movie. Occasionally slipping into Gaelic, the native characters (played by Highlanders) are joyously attuned to the weather’s idiosyncrasies. At one point, Joan and Torquil quietly peer in on a raucous diamond wedding celebration. We feel the same way, as if the bagpiping and chanting are the culmination of centuries of tradition.


No comments: