The Other Side of the Wind

The Other Side of the Wind is a hybrid film straddling between a feature film and a documentary that was released in 2018, starring John Huston, Oja Kodar, and Peter Bogdanovich. At its core, the film is about a movie director struggling to complete his final film, wrapping his endeavors in the complex labyrinth of the Hollywood filmmaking industry, and reflecting on the tumultuous changes in cinema styles that were unfolding during that period.

Arguably one of the most awaited film releases, The Other Side of the Wind carries an unmatched legacy. Having languished in the depths of production for 40 years, the brainchild of director Orson Welles was eventually completed by a team of dedicated filmmakers and cinephiles. With Welles' death in 1985, the film remained unfinished but not forgotten. It was revived and completed using Welles' script, rich footage, and production notes.

The movie is a tale of the last day in the life of a charismatic yet world-weary director, Jake Hannaford, played by John Huston. Huston, a prolific director himself, expertly carries the protagonist's weight, imbuing him with a profound mixture of charisma and dread, breathing life into Welles' vision of the fading glory of old-school Hollywood. Pulled by his wishes, his ego, the industry's expectations, and his complicated relationship with his young protégé Brooks Otterlake, Hannaford teems under the surface with a bitter disillusionment towards the art he dedicated his life to.

Oja Kodar, Welles' partner and collaborator, plays a key component of Hannaford's largely unseen, yet profoundly mentioned feature film. Her participation is delineated in a series of brilliant sequences within Hannaford's film, footage with an experimental and sensual edge reflective of the progressive European cinema of the era.

Peter Bogdanovich, a historic film director himself, brings a strong portrayal as Hannaford's eager admirer and successful mainstream filmmaker Otterlake. Their relationship is full of fascinating undertones, with a clear reflection of the real-life relationship between Welles and Bogdanovich.

In several layers, The Other Side of the Wind is a film within a film, portraying the strained process of creating cinema and provides an intense critique of the Hollywood industry. Simultaneously, it portrays encroaching forms of filmmaking, most noticeably it echoes the fascinating mix of New Hollywood cinema and European Avant-Garde practices.

The narrative is dispersed among several parties, documentary-style interviews, and sequences that form a patchwork of perspectives that tell Hannaford’s story. It's set mainly at a birthday party for Hannaford and is cleverly shot through a variety of film styles, cameras, and film types, replicating the ambiance of the 70's mise-en-scène.

Moreover, the cinematography in the movie is highly innovative. The film uses an amalgamation of styles mimicking both a documentary aesthetic and pushing the boundary of what is normally considered cinematically acceptable in the more experimental sequences. It presents a chaotic and free-wheeling depiction of the world that encapsulates the tension and exhilaration of 70s Hollywood.

Despite its long and complex history, the film feels remarkably fresh. It's dynamic, innovative, and intriguingly mysterious, playing with the viewer's anticipation and understanding. It represents Welles' vision, challenges, and loyalty to his craft, providing a compelling insight into his world and perspectives vis-a-vis the filmmaking industry.

Further noteworthy is the inclusion of Hannaford's incomplete work - a film carrying symbolic resonance regarding Welles' own unfinished projects. The film takes on a deeply meta-reference to the realities of cinema and the inescapable hardships omnipresent in an industry governed by time, budget, and audience demand.

In addition to the film's protagonist and narrative, The Other Side of The Wind's ultimate charm lies in its existence as Welles' final opus. A tantalizingly fragmented portrayal of a man grappling with the fading implications of his golden past, it's a captivating watch for cinephiles and those intrigued by Hollywood's metamorphic history.

Packed with a message passed through generations, The Other Side of the Wind is a remarkable tribute to an all-time great, marking Welles' final and perhaps most profound statement about the field that he deeply impacted.