The Other Side of the Wind

The Other Side of the Wind is an avant-garde movie that was officially released in 2018. An intriguing aspect of this film is its incredible backstory. The film’s director, Orson Welles, began shooting it in the 1970s, but due to a complex mix of personal, financial, and legal problems, it was left incomplete at his death in 1985. More than 40 years after it was filmed and languished in obscurity, it was finally compiled and completed by a group of stalwart admirers that includes Peter Bogdanovich and Frank Marshall under the banner of Netflix.

The film is an experimental, self-reflective montage from the 70s, a mockumentary of the last day of a legendary film director’s life, which reflects the pinnacle of Hollywood’s radical era. The film is rich with layers of meaning and full of the spirit of the auteur theory, where the director is considered the main creative force behind a movie.

Welcoming veteran actor John Huston to the role of the protagonist, the parallel drawn between himself and that of Orson Welles cannot be ignored. The main character, Jake Hannaford, is a larger-than-life, hard-drinking movie director, exiled for years in Europe, who returns to Los Angeles on his 70th birthday in an attempt to make a comeback film titled, fittingly enough, "The Other Side of the Wind." He bristles with artistic narcissism and macho swagger, reminiscent of both Huston and Welles, rendering the director and his lead actor nearly indistinguishable.

Hannaford's avant-garde film-within-a-film is also featured prominently in The Other Side of the Wind, starring Oja Kodar, who was Welles' real-life partner. Her character plays a pivotal yet silent role, encapsulating an erotic monument within Hanaaford’s movie, an embodiment of his own obsessions and a symbol of his motivations.

Joining the ensemble is Peter Bogdanovich, the director, and actor playing Hannaford's acolyte turned successful director, Brooks Otterlake. This role was originally intended for Welles' own protege, Bogdanovich brings sincerity and reminiscence, emphasizing the love-hate relationship often exhibited between mentors and their protégés.

A strong supporting cast including Susan Strasberg, Bob Random, Norman Foster, Edmond O'Brien, Mercedes McCambridge, and Cameron Mitchell round out the film, contributing to its chaotic and diverse atmosphere focused on the day-in-the-life of a masterfully insightful, nuanced, and flawed character.

The Other Side of the Wind is a cacophonous collage of moments and elements, filled with Welles's signature disjointed editing and narrative leaps. The film speaks to the mayhem of filmmaking, treated with Welles’ iconic panache. The frenzy of the party scenes, the bitter hilarity of the industry's self-parody, and the existentialism of the contrastingly silent Kodar scenes make for an engaging, thought-provoking piece that pushes boundaries and questions norms.

Despite being released in 2018, the movie is a treasure from the New Hollywood era. The aesthetics are meticulously retro, and the color palette swapping between vibrant and monochrome styles is in perfect alignment with the story’s fluctuating rhythm, hence encapsulating the spirit of an era gone by.

The surreality of the film, intertwining various themes, progresses into a deeper inquiry into the duality present within all artists. The title itself suggests an exploration of the unseen aspects of the creative mind, challenging viewers to look beyond the screenplay’s facade, encouraging them to ponder their own interpretation.

Without too much revealed detail, The Other Side of the Wind is not just a movie; it is cinema’s time capsule triggered by the enigma that was Orson Welles. For cinephiles and students of film history, it offers an open-window view to witness the swan song of a late cinema giant stuck in a moment of time. It is indeed a testament to Welles' legacy which, just like itself, has seen its share of trials and tribulations, yet stands brave and tall. Be prepared to embark on a challenging but ultimately rewarding cinematic journey.