Page 147 - Metropolis Megazine No.120 International

PHOTOs © QUIM VIVEs

knows?) is in a state of emergency. Further on, on the Talking Heads song, seems to be an endless
the radio, a monotonous voice will give us escape, a “Road To Nowhere.” This instance
information pointing to the strong probability involves a train ride that leads to an unidentified
that a significant part of the blue planet is already destination. Are they going to Mauritania? Will
suffering the dark consequences of a Third World they make it to Paradise? Will they overcome the
War. Deep down, those who danced there, facing thin blade of Sirât, whatever that is and wherever
the abyss of existence, ended up dancing on a they are going? Perhaps there is hope if we think
volcano. But this time, the evil lurking in the of the nomadic characters who, in the end,
shadows, dormant, seems more difficult to accompany the few Europeans who escaped the
overcome. We will later learn that the volcano no rigours and traps of the desert, perched on the
longer even exists as a metaphor. Worse, it has roof of a train carriage! But that doesn't matter.
been replaced by the concrete reality of things, Let's not look for answers or ask too many
and the idea of a nightmare materialised in the questions. Indeed, viewing «Sirât» leaves us with
destruction caused by devastating explosive that impression. We shouldn't attempt to
charges. What then reigns is the haunting fear of rationalise what we witness, as it could lead to an
not surviving an indeterminate series of anti- impossible mission, and we shouldn't consider Tom
personnel mines. These devices, hidden in the Cruise's exploits in this context. They belong to
desert sand, will cut off the path, the road, and the other films with different intentions and agendas.
bridge that lead travellers from their full lives I thought of the mystics who, in the vastness of
within the framework defined by the difficulties the sand and the silence of nature, sought God and
they face, causing them to fall into the horror of the Devil, the atonement for their sins and the
an eventual instant death. But there are those who sins of the world. I thought of another classic
survive. Nevertheless, their flight forward, as in American song, performed by Neil Young, “A Horse

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