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Let's see... How do we start this post? Ah, I know how...! Pulp Fiction, a film, which is the summit for every filmmaker and film lover, about what a dialogue is, how to develop it properly; and how without abrupt changes of time during the footage, we can marvel after generations since its official release, exactly 30 years ago (1994). What's more, the best thing about this film is that it was incredible in its historical moment, and it is still incredible nowadays. And I know this, because I saw it yesterday with several people (not older than 25) and they couldn't believe their eyes. Blood, measured violence, intellectualism, and lots and lots of intelligence.... Brace yourselves.
When Pulp Fiction opens, it does so by explaining the very term that gives life to the film... And basically, it's about comic strips from the 70's in the United States of America. They were fundamental for the young generation of those years, who grew up with a mixture of several things that today I don't know if they would be objectionable... To give just one example, the black but not racist humour, the implication of chaos and above all related to crime and mystery. It's not the same as the police chronicle, because the language was basic to be read and understood by everyone, and they lacked the police approach...
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Returning to what has made this film phenomenal, however, I simply believe that it lies in the way in which, with still shots and a marked preponderance of dialogue full of personal impressions, opinions and subjectivities, it gives the viewer a sense of being in the presence of a familiar person. Perhaps an acquaintance, or a friend. It creates the ideal atmosphere to be able to situate the whole audience in time and form. Morally controversial, because all the actions presented in this Tarantino film, we see the point of view of thieves, criminals and gangsters.
Nevertheless, it is not without a twisted sense of humour, social apathy and a fine and very bizarre psychopathy that we can subtly feel throughout the duration of this gem, this work of art that never loses its relevance and importance. Moreover, let's remember that in 1994, the year of the film's release, not even the big film production companies dared to make a story with premises such as crime from the criminals' point of view, the lack of importance for other people's lives, and above all a wonderful journey through Christian guilt (although this last part is impressively realised by Samuel L. Jackson's character).
A number of stories, divided into chapters, very much in the western and classic Tarantino style, which at first glance do not seem to be interconnected but which only a marvellous montage by this director and scriptwriter can bring to life. Nowadays, this style of editing a film is very well known, but at the time, intermingling such disparate genres was not only unusual, but nobody was betting on it? These were some of the difficulties Quentin Tarantino had to face in order to make it. That's how "visionaries" like the Weinstein brothers, infamous in the present day, but geniuses in the 90's and 2000's, saw the potential and made it a reality....
As such, Pulp Fiction has created stills and clips that have not only fed popular culture, but belong to the great audiovisual wonders of cinema history. John Travolta (his character) dancing a rock 'n' roll twist with Uma Thurman, a monologue on an (epic) biblical passage by Samuel Jackson, and one of the most beautiful homages to 60's cinema I have ever seen, are some of the pearls that are in this film. And talking about Pulp Fiction could take me several long posts, but honestly the images speak more and better than any one could write.
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Lastly, and in order not to make any spoilers, the most shocking scene for me, and that for as much as I read and read analyses I don't feel it is praised at the level it deserves, is the final one: the rape, revenge and redemption... I will say no more. In fact, I confess that this post was going to be about that scene alone, but without context, and knowing how the networks interpret current affairs without taking into account historical times, I understood that it would be a serious mistake. I hope I'm not alone in this appreciation, and that there are people who appreciate underground, noir films with innovative ideas, like Pulp Fiction was at the time. So much needed nowadays, but I don't see it as possible... How ironic, isn't it?
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By the way, Pulp Fiction was in the Netflix catalogue for Latin America, not anymore. Maybe it will be in other parts of the world? Anyway, it's a gem and should be easy to find.
