A LONG GOODBYE

The title’s analogy with that of the preceding BRIEF ENCOUNTERS is no coincidence. In the earlier film, life disintegrated into many short-lived moments that refused to yield a whole. Now, in this intractable sequel, life takes on somewhat different form. The duration of the individual fragments appears overlong and tiring to the protagonists themselves, particularly the lead character. With everything appearing to be fairly harmonious, the search for causes in real life is apparently futile: people learn trades, work, have children and bring them up. Merely the protagonist’s ex-husband bears some resemblance to a “villain” with potential accountability for the spiritual unease. But he is far too distanced from the reality that surrounds him. After his migration from the previous film, he has now become a wholly bodiless entity.