Response to “Instant Nostalgia? Let’s Go to the Videotape” by Philip Lim

NYTimes 1/27/08
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/movies/27lim.html?_r=1&sq=be%20kind%20rewind&st=nyt&oref=slogin&scp=3&pagewanted=all

In his review, Philip Lim gives his readers an interesting history lesson on the fall of the VHS and the rise of the DVD to bring out the nostalgia of the outdated technology that Michel Gondry focuses on in his new film Be Kind Rewind. Lim’s long list of lo-fi videos in “ancient formats,” along with the quotes from his interviews explain the appeal of the VHS, and thus of the Gondry’s film itself. Gondry’s quote used in Lim’s review noting that “today new product comes so fast that sometimes the human brain doesn’t have the capacity to adapt,” may make many – especially the older generation’s – heads nod. Lim makes it clear that the DVDs are superior over the VHS tapes in many aspects, however, it is hard to ignore the authenticity of the degraded aesthetic from the formative age.

Lim does a good job at pointing out the society’s fascination with the technology, yet fails to give the sense of what the film is really about. His review is unsuccessful at criticizing the movie as well. I enjoyed reading this article in preparation for my final project on Michel Gondry, but would not have read it if I wanted to be informed about the movie.