Obscured by Clouds - Anyone seen the film?

[Lavalamp]

I've always had a soft spot for this soundtrack. I'm told that they knocked this one off in only a few days.

Has anyone seen the film it was made for? The photos and tribal chants at the end have got me intrigued.

[izgoblin]

Yup - it's even been finally released on DVD here in the US after being obscured itself for many years.

I found it to be a hypnotic film. It has been years since I watched it so I'm afraid I can't tell you anymore! If you like the score, you'll probably like the film as they go together quite well.

[Coldacre]

The movie's friggin' dreadful. :D

it's a plodder; a couple of stoner hippies go wandering through the forest for a few weeks - and nothing happens! the thing drags out for a couple of hours. when it finally ended, I looked at my uncle whom I was watching it with and said "WHAT?? But nothing happened?!!" rather incredulously.

it's only interesting point is that some of the Floyd songs are different versions than what ended up on the album. "Childhoods end" from memory was acoustic not electric.

[Blencathra]

A load of hippie rambling - and I'm an ex hippy - no story as such. I watched it in the cinema, when it came out and again when I bought the DVD, 4 or 5 years ago. Can't see me wanting to see it again for another 30 years or so. I'll just stick to the soundtrack, which I love.

It's better than the drivel that is "More" though!

[ChrisM]

Bought a copy of this on DVD about 6 months ago. Yep, it's the hippie trip that previous posters have noted. Great soundtrack, though.

Cheers,
Chris

[Rael]

I thought Obscured By Clouds (I think the film is actually titled La Vallee) was an interesting, hypnotic film. There isn't much of a plot and the ending is very abrupt, but if mystical art films are your bag, you'd probably enjoy it. I wouldn't watch it based solely on the fact that Pink Floyd composed the soundtrack though; the current Region 1 DVD only features a monaural soundtrack and most of the music sounds scratchy and distant.

[kevintomb]

Uh..not the greatest story, but interesting mainly if you like the FLOYD, Too bad they didnt lend their music to a really decent movie back in the day, something that would be remembered. Oh well its kinda worth watching in a way just to see what it is I guess.

[Coldacre]

I thought Obscured By Clouds was an interesting, hypnotic film. There isn't much of a plot and the ending is very abrupt

:laugh:

[christopher]

i saw i once in the uniondale mini-cinema on long island 30 years ago. i couldn't, on a bet, tell you what it was about.

later, chris

[Dillydipper]

Now all we need is for somebody to synch-up Dark Side of the Moon to Koyannisquatsi...:D

[mr_mjb1960]

Wasn't it called originally "La Vallee"? That's what the original Lp cover said it came from! Michael Boyce

[johmbolaya]

Wasn't it called originally "La Vallee"? That's what the original Lp cover said it came from! Michael Boyce

Yes, or "The Valley". It is on Netflix, if anyone wants to take a look, along with "More".

As for "La Vallee", I saw it for the first time earlier this year and I always like how there seems to be a bit of continuity with the visuals as well, particularly the use of the pig. Not only did they have continuity with the music, but one can go back to some of the movies they did music for and see things they would eventually use throughout their career (such as the explosive last scene in "Zabriskie Point").

Anyway, the pig.

[johmbolaya]

It's better than the drivel that is "More" though!

I had seen it on a "digital file" before it was released officially in the US on DVD. I got the DVD and I'm still confused. We're going to travel, get really high, burn our eyes with the sun, and then... and then... the end? I wasn't alive in the late 60's but if someone now or in the future wanted a document about what live was like in the 60's, I don't know if they'd want to pull out "More".

"Zabriskie Point" is kind of kooky too, but it must have been great to be asked to make some music for a film, get paid for it, and then have the film be obscure for decades, only for a new generation to discover it and understand why it collected dust.

[Jack White]

johmbolaya: ... As for "La Vallee", I saw it for the first time earlier this year and I always like how there seems to be a bit of continuity with the visuals as well, particularly the use of the pig. Not only did they have continuity with the music, but one can go back to some of the movies they did music for and see things they would eventually use throughout their career (such as the explosive last scene in "Zabriskie Point").

Anyway, the pig.

Are pigs a leitmotiv running through Floyd's career? :)

[ubsman]

Just got this on Blu-ray. I'll be playing it tonight. It is apparently region-free.

[ubsman]

I think I may sell my Blu-ray of this.

Maybe I should wait awhile. It may be out of print soon and rare soon....

http://www.base.com/buy/product/valley-obscured-by-cloud-blu-ray-and-dvd/dgc-bfib1039.htm

[R. Totale]

i saw i once in the uniondale mini-cinema on long island 30 years ago. i couldn't, on a bet, tell you what it was about.


Ditto. I think I vaguely remember a couple of reasonably hot chicks, but that's about it.

[Rocker]

As a couple people have already pointed out, the proper title is indeed La Vallee, and no, it's not really a very good film. I've got it on DVD but it likely won't be a title I'll re-visit very often. ;)

My main reasons for seeking it out were: 1) i'm a huge Pink Floyd fan and quite enjoy the Obscured by Clouds album, and 2) i've seen several other of director Barbet Schroeder's films and was curious to see how this one compared to his other work.

Incidentally, Schroeder also directed More, which Floyd did the soundtrack for... but I haven't been able to find that one yet. The DVD was released couple years after the "La Vallee" disc, and by the same company, but I've never seen a copy anywhere.
:shrug:

[Mike from NYC]

i saw i once in the uniondale mini-cinema on long island 30 years ago. i couldn't, on a bet, tell you what it was about.

later, chris

Wow, you brought back memories by mentioning the Mini-Cinema.

Saw the movie with friends back when it was released and it was drivel and unless you were on LSD or some other drug it was boring.

Got the DVD a few years ago at the NY Public Library and it was just as bad as I initially remembered it.

Going to a Floyd concert was much more rewarding.