C|uf|5/ L|g||

D UBQNOO IQ Of ID IOFKf " 1BK

N O Qj W OWR B"
LESPAIR AT THE LND OF THE LENTURY

YLlG bcardcd | ourna|tst and a Grcck army co|onc| stand on a
brtdc ovcr a rtvcr that ts thc bordcr bctwccn Grcccc and A|banta.
Jhcy wcar coats to protcct thcmsc|vcs aatnst thc ray dawn ot a
northcrn Grcck wtntcr day. Jhc co|onc| potnts to a b|uc |tnc and says that
tt ts thc cnd ot Grcccc. ln thc dtstancc wc scc AIbantan uards, watchtng.
Jhc co|onc| |ttts onc |c and says, "lt l takc onc morc stcp, l wt|| bc somc-
whcrc c|sc. r dtc. " Jhc A|bantan uards appcar ncrvous. Jhc co|onc|
rcmatns wtth onc toot suspcndcd and thcn s|ow|y |owcrs tt aatn . . . tn
Grcccc. Hc and thc | ourna|tst wa|k away.
ln Susended Ste, Anc|opou|os touchcs thc "mctarca|tty" tn thc
troub|cd ht story ot thc a|kans durtn thc cnd ot thc ccntury. Anc|opou-
|os, |tkc thc | ourna|tst, ocs attcr a story, darcs to |t tt onc |c tn an cxcrctsc
ot "what tt, " and rcturns wtth tmacs such as thc onc dcscrt bcd abovc
that torcc us to mcdttatc, tn a c|carcr | tht, on thc conccpt ot bordcrs and
thc tcrrttortcs-coraphtca|, cu|tura|, po|tttca|, and pcrsona|-thcy |ock
tn and out. As thc co|onc| accompanytn thc | ourna|tst says soon attcr-
wards, a|| ot thc hundrcds ot rctuccs wc scc watttn tn thts bordcr town
havc comc to scc thctr condttton as, n hts word, "mythtca| . "
lrontca||y, tt an army othccr, who, tn thts h|m, bccomcs somcthtn ot
a Grcck chortc hurc, sucsts such a dtmcnston, thcn wc shou|d takc htm
scrtous|y, as thc | ourna|tst docs, as wc obscrvc Anc|opou|os's suspcndcd
ctncmattc stcp. ln thts |tht Susended Ste ts a scarch, a | ourncy, a |ovc
story, a Chrtst myth, and a ktnd ot homccomtn a|| pro| cctcd, hna||y, tnto
thc vcry cnd ot thc twcnttcth ccntury-Occcmbcr J I , I >>>-and bcyond.
Desair at tbe End oj tbe Centu ts thc book, wc dtscovcr tn thc h|m,
that thc ccntra| hurc, a Grcck po|tttctan p|aycd by Marcc||o Mastrotannt,
has wrtttcn bctorc hc takcs a stcp to "somcwhcrc c|sc, " thus bccomtn thc
dysscus|ysscs hurc ot thts narrattvc. ln thts scnsc thc h|m bccomcs tor
Anc|opou|os not on|y a comp|cx and dccp|y attccttn mcdttatton on con-
tcmporary htstory as ttcd to rctuccs trom cvcrywhcrc who arc trappcd tn
thc a|kans, stmu|tancous|y tt cmcrcs as an opcntn study ot what hopcs
may cmcrc lor a ncw ordcr bcyond thc chaos ol thc prcscnt.
I 6Z Vt r L N b
I I . 1hc tcIcvson j OurDat takc a uQcDdcd tcQ at thc Ltcck-AbamaD
bordcr. Tbe Susended Ste tbe
RELUDE TO THE LREAT ICRATION tAVE EVER
ELT LIKE HI S EFORE
AncIopou|os oncc morc draws on a combncd Homcrc and Oantcsguc
usc ot dysscus and hs travcIs as structurng and thcmatc cIcmcnts tor
hs hIm. 1cIcmachus n ths casc s a youn tc|cvson documcntary j our-
na|st n scarch ot a "story" about a tamous Grcck po|ucan who wcnt
olt on a |ourncy and was ncvcr hcard ot agan. dysscus n ths s an
an Grcck poItcan who has cthcr changcd dcnttcs or s actuaI|y
anothcr pcrson. Hc s not a hcro wnnng thc 1rojan War tor thc rccks
as n Homcr, but somcthn ot a ho|y tooI who, n a Chrsdkc manncr,
has vcn up cvcrythn to Ivc among mc most untonunatc ot contcm-
porary humans. thc ntcrnatona| rctugccs n scarch ot a homc, rcaI or
mancd.
Wc bcn wth crcdts on a dark scrccn and composcr LIcn Karandrou' s
sIow yct somchow nourshng musc, whch n ths scorc tcatmcs thc
pcrcn saxophonc work ot thc lorcgan j azz mastcr |an Garbarck. lt
musc scts a mood and tonc, and ths tuII orchcsua musc docs, t s onc
bascd on a smpIc mcIody, tuII ot tccIng and rch n possbItcs.
ladc n on hcIcoptcrs crcIn ovcr a sca on a gray mornng as mc
1ML L L L L L 1L L 1ML 1 L
mustc cOnttnucs. 1hc scrcntty and yct strangcncss Ot thts baIct Ot atrcrah
Ovcr watcr cchOcs thc "anctcnt hand sccnc tn LanJscapc tn tbc Mtst.
As tn LanJsmpc, AngcOpOuOs bcgtns thc hm wtth a vOtcc-Ovcr "prc-
amDc trOm thc matn charactcr. Jcrc, thc tccvtstOn Ournatst [ LrcgOry
Karr} tcs us that On hts way tO thc bOrdcr tO dO a stOry, hc thOught abOut
"that tnctdcnt tn ltracus [ thc pOrt Ot Athcns} tn whtch Astan stOwaways
On a Lrcck shtp, whO had bccn dcntcd asyum Dy Lrcck Omctas, cast
thcmscIvcs tntO thc sca rathcr than bc rcturncd. 1hts turntng away Ot pO-
tttca rctugccs, Ot cOursc, cchOcs thc cndtng Ot Voyac as 5pyrOs and hts
wttc arc scut Ott mtO "tntcrnattOna watcrs.
At thts pOtnt tn uspcnJcJ tcp, wc arc nO IOngcr tOcuscd On thc hcIt-
cOptcrs, but rathcr On bOatcd bOdtcs hOattng tn thc sca and bctng
rOundcd up by twO smaI DOats. lt tt ts thc past that cmcrgcs trOm thc sca
ncar thc cnd Ot LanJscapc, tt ts thc patntu prcscnt that ts harvcstcd trOm
thc sca tn thts OQcntng mOmcnt Ot uspcnJcJ tcp. 1hcrc ts nO mustc as
wc watch thc bOdtcs.
1hc vOtcc-Ovcr Ot thc yOung maIc j OurnaItst thcn cIucs us that hts stOry
ts mOrc than a ncws ptccc. "l bcgan |O thtnk abOut tbem [thc bOdtcs OJ thc
rctugccs] and tO wOndcr hOw dOcs Onc dcctdc tO cavc Vhy And tO
whcrc And thOught abOut that anctcnt vcrsc, 'OOn`t tOrgct that thc ttmc
tOr a vOyagc has cOmc agatn. 1hc wtnd bOws yOur cycs tar away` [ hc ts
audtng tO a tnc tn Oantc`s ln[etno .
1hc sccOnd sccnc t s a Ong tracktng shOt. wc watch a ]ccp apprOach thc
bOrdcr wtth ADanta, and thc Ournatst and thc cOOnc accOmpanytng
htm gct Out. 1hc cOOnc must tnspcct a tnc Ot trOOps standtng tn stngc
hc, ccary ctchcd agatnst thc wtntcr rtvcr andscapc bchtnd thcm. lt ts a
rOuttnc rOl ca cxccpt tOr Onc pOtnt. scvcra ttmcs bcstdcs gtvtng thctr
namcs, thcsc yOung sOdtcrs aud a cOmmcnt that sccms tOtaIy Out Ot
pacc tOr thc sccnc. Onc yOung rccrutt says, ahcr hts namc ts cacd, "l am
Ony atratd Ot thc rOar Ot thc rtvcr at ntght. 1hc cOOnc dOcs nOt cOm-
mcnt On thcsc rcmarks, and nO Onc sccms tO bc upsct Or tO cvcn nOttcc
anythtng unusuaI tn thcsc statcmcnts. but tt ts thc ktnd Ot tntrustOn tntO
what appcars tO bc a rcatsttc sccnc that stgnaIs AngcOpOuOs`s mctarca-
tsttc apprOach tO sccncs, charactcrs, htstO, and ctncmattc narrattvc. Jhc
mOmcnt ts nOt surrca. Vc dO nOt havc, as wc dO tn Luts buuc, tOr tn-
stancc, a razOr badc stctng a wOman`s cyc Un Cbtcn AnJa/ou Or dtnncr
gucsts tOrmay drcsscd stntng arOmd a dtntng rOOm tabc On tOtcts 1hc
Ibantom o[ Ltcrq} . Kathcr, thc mOmcnt has a sOtd "rcatty tO tt that
On thc surtacc Ottcrs nO arrtngy strangc uxtapOstttOn such as ts prO-
vtdcd tn bmuc`s hms. but wtthtn thts rcatsttc tramc, AngcOpOuOs
strctchcs thc tmtts Ot thc rca by havtng a yOung rccrutt uttcr a tnc such
as "l am Ony atratd Ot thc rOar Ot thc rtvcr at ntght.
64
At that cxact ntcrsccton ol thc rca|stc mac and thc mprobab|c
|nc, Anc|opou|os's mctarca|sm bcns. What makcs thc cxchangc m-
probab|c, ol coursc, s that t may wc|| cxprcss thc so|dcr's unconscous
or actua| lcars, but thc |nc s nappropratc lor a m|tary ro|| ca||. Jhat
Anc|opou|os mutcs thc rcsponsc and passcs on guck|y to thc ncxt rc-
crut wthout lanlarc sna|s oncc morc that such a mctarca|sm shou|d bc
takcn as rca| wthn thc lramc ot thc h|m that unto|ds bctorc us. Hc scts
up a "mctarca| " opcnn mac-bodcs hoatn n thc sca-that has bc-
comc too trhtn|y common n ncws rcports on tc|cvson cspcca||y. ut
an army ro|| ca|| sccms to bc comp|ctc|y norma| . And yct thc hna| cllcct
ot such a pcrsona| lcar cxprcsscd n such poctc |anuagc by a youn rc-
crut s to draw attcnton, lor an nstant, to thc so|dcr's ndvdua|ty
wthn thc m|tary roup to whch hc bc|ons. Altcr a||, thc momcnt
wou|d havc bccn both dllcrcnt and morc "rca|stc" l thc rccrut had
spokcn n thc usua| ha|l | aron, ha|l swcarn |no ol so|dcrs cvcry-
whcrc. ut "l am on|y alrad ol thc roar ol thc rvcr at nht, " comn
lrom an undcntthcd charactcr sccn on|y brchy n a |on narratvc,
c|car|y bccomcs onc way n whch Anc|opou|os cxpands our conccpt ol
thc rca| to nc|udc what wc mht usua||y ca|| thc poctc.
Vc now havc thc "ll l takc onc morc stcp" sccnc, on thc brdc, dcscrbcd
abovc.
Vhcn thcy |cavc thc brdc on thc bordcr, wc scc thc co|onc| |cad thc
| ourna|st down throuh thc bushcs to thc rvcr. Jhcrc, as thc ray rvcr
hows by, wc hcar vcry a|kanc musc rathcr lant|y comn across thc
watcr. ln onc ol thc lcw p|aylu| momcnts ol thc h|m, wc dscovcr that thc
musc s |tcra||y comn across thc watcr on a tny ralt, nsdc a chcap
casscttc tapc rccordcr. A mdd|c-acd Grcck pcasant rcccvcs t, pu||n
on a wrc strun across thc rvcr. Hc takcs out thc tapc, puts n anothcr,
and thc ratt s on ts way aan, back across thc rvcr to thc "othcr coun-
try" but ths ttmc p|ayn a mournlu| Grcck pop son.
Lovc s a luII moon
l drvc my body mad
And l drcam ol you.
Jhs s as c|osc as Anc|opou|os comcs to what at hrst lcc|s |kc purc
humor. And yct thc appca|n absurdty ot ths "travc|n p|aycr" s un-
dcrcut by thc co|onc| ' s ntruson.
Ahcr takn thc | ourna|st up a watchtowcr to scc a v||agc across thc
rtvcr ca||cd "Jhc Vatng Koom, " thc co|onc| drvcs hm nto town, cx-
p|anng n vocc-ovcr that thousands ot ||cga| rctugccs-"Kurds, Jurks,
A| banans, lo|cs, Komanans, lranans"-havc wound up n camps thcrc
watn tor thc Grcck govcrnmcnt to a||ow thcm to go "c|scwhcrc. " lt s
1ML L L LL L 1L L 1ML 1L 65
at ths pont that hc tc||s thc | ourna|tst that thcr p|tht s "mythca| . "
\oyage cnds wth two pcop|c on a ratt, dsp|accd, wth nowhcrc t o go.
Susended Ste prcscnts thousands ot para||c| cascs, mp|yn thc othcr
mI|ons around thc wor|d n sm|ar "mythca| " crcumstanccs.
Jhc | ourna|st, ta||, thn, bcardcd, and wcarn |asscs, thcn wandcrs
thc rvcrtront markct arca ot ths o|d northcrn Grcck town tu| | ot trad-
tona| Jurksh-nhucnccd archtccturc. ln a sIow zoom across thc rvcr wc
scc, tor thc hrst ttmc, "hm, " thc ob| cct ot thc | ourna|st's scarch Mar-
cc||o Mastroann } , shoppn and wcarn a huntcr's cap, shabby coat
pu||cd up aanst thc co|d, and boots.
Cut. At thc hotc| n town, thc | ourna|st s now | otncd by hs tcam ot
tour. a camcra-and-sound crcw ot thrcc tc||ows and onc tcmaIc assstant.
As thcy chcck tn, thc c|crk says to thc | ourna|st, "l'vc sccn you on 1,
havcn't l ! " And as thc crcw choosc thcr rooms, thcy conduct a IttIc
horscp|ay, sucstn thc ood-naturcd tcamwork thcy arc uscd to wth-
out thc nccd tor commcnt. Jhcy arc, wc tcc|, thcr own happy protcs-
sona| carnva|.
lrom hs ba|cony, thc | ourna|st |ooks out aan at thc markct and sccs
"hm" aan. 5|ow zoom onto hm.
Vc cut to thc | ourna|st and thc crcw wa|kn to thc ra |way yard
whcrc many ot thc rctuccs arc |vn n boxcars. Jhc | ourna|st ponts hs
camcra crcw toward thc statonary tran ot rctuccs, and thc camcra bc-
ns to roI|.
Vhat to||ows s onc ot thc most hauntn sccncs n any ot Anc|opou-
|os's h|ms. lt s a Ion trackn shot a|on ths tran to nowhcrc. Jhc |nc
ot boxcars s statonary, but thc |ctt-to-rht trackn vcwcr' s pcrspcc-
tvc} ot thc 1 camcra crcw vcs thc ||uson ot movcmcnt as wc s|owIy
track past sx boxcars, cach wth a rctucc tam|y at ts opcn door, cach
wth ts dstnct cthnc costumc vsb|c, cach wth ts sm|ar s|cnt starn
ot pcop|c dsp|accd, watn, watn, watn. Jhc musc s prcdom-
nant|y a |onc accordon, rchcctvc ot thc nostaIc but comtortn tunc wc
havc hcard sncc thc opcnn.
ln ths onc trackn shot wc havc both thc sub| cct ot thc | ourna|st's
opcnn gucston-rctuccs and what makcs thcm |cavc and tor whcrc-
and a commcnt as wcI| . bccausc thc | ourna|st s a | ourna|st, wc arc wat-
n tor thc vocc-ovcr "ncws. " ut thc sIcncc tocthcr wth thc musc}
a||ows us to o bcyond thc ncws, bcyond thc bordcrs ot cxp|anatons tor
a momcnt to cxpcrcncc thc cxstcncc ot thcsc rctuccs. Jhc sccnc rcmnds
us ot Va|kcr Lvans's photoraphs ot thc Ocprcsson "comc to Itc" n
mutcd co|ors, n a s|ow-trackn trczc, whch rcprcscnts aI| thosc who
havc nothn, at thc cnd ot thc twcntcth ccntury.
cyond thc vsua| magcs ot rctugccs, howcvcr, Anc|opou|os adds
vocc-ovcrs ot bts and pcccs ot spccch n a|| ot thc |anuagcs rcprcscntcd,
66
cach cxp|ann how thcy cscapcd torturc, dcath, hardshp n thcr own
|ands. A|| ot ths "documcntary" matcraI as a truck arrvcs dumpn
uscd c|othn tor thc rctuccs and a roup ot rctucc ch|drcn push and
shovc to athcr thcm aI| up. Vc scc thc tcIcvson crcw h|mn thc cvcnt.
Jhcn thc mac bccomcs onc on a scrccn n a tc|cvson studo scrccnn
room as our youn rcportcr watchcs thc scrccn. Hc ncxt ocs throuh a
h|c ot photos n an archvc ot thc othcc, rcturnn to thc scrccn to Iook at
a trcczc-tramc mac ot Mastroann.
Cut to a tancy cockta| party at whch thc rcportcr bcns spcakn n
Ln|sh to thc torcn wtc ot thc poItcan who dsappcarcd pIaycd by
lrcnch actrcss |cannc Morcau} . 5hc cxp|ans that hc wa|kcd out ot hs
|ob, hs marrac, and hs Itc attcr wrtn a book, Desair at tbe End oj
tbe Centu, and that ths dcparturc was an car|cr onc trom whch hc dd
rcturn attcr torty days but "|kc a strancr. " Vc scc a copy ot thc book
wtth a youncr Mastroann on thc covcr.
Vc hnd thc rcportcr at hs a||-whtc apartmcnt surroundcd by books
hc s usn tor hs rcscarch. A|so prcscnt s hs su||cn youn r|trcnd n
a b|ack mnskrt. Hc guotcs to hcr trom thc po|tcan's conc|uson at thc
cnd ot hs book, And ubat are tbe key uords ue cou/d use in order to
make a neu co//ectiue dream come truer" As thc poItcan's wtc thcn
arrvcs, wc |carn trom hcr that shc has onc |ast audotapc whch hc madc
bctorc |cavn tor thc sccond tmc. 5hc cxp|ans that hc couId not rcmcm-
bcr anythn whcn hc rcturncd attcr that hrst dcpanurc, and that shc had
oltcrcd to o wth hm whcn hc |ctt aan. Hc had arccd, wc arc rc-
mndcd ot 5pyros's wtc |cavn wth hm at thc cnd ot \oyage.
5hc thcn spcaks wth thc rcportcr n thc strccts ot Athcns as wc scc a
latvty sccnc n a shop wndow. 5hc cxpIans that shc had tc|t that hc
was bccomn "anothcr man. " 5hc had onc wth hm to a hotc| room
whcrc hc madc |ovc to hcr vo|cnt|y "as t wc ddn't know cach othcr.
Lkc strancrs who mcct n a movc thcatcr n thc mornn" -ths sharpIy
cchocs thc sccnc n Tbe 8eekeeer n whch Mastroann makcs |ovc n
tront ot a movtc scrccn n an abandoncd movc thcatcr to a youn woman
hc has | ust mct. At that pont thc po|tcan had Ictt tor ood. Hs wtc and
thc | ourna|st arc standn by an u|y, nosy hhway at nht, rcmns-
ccnt ot sccncs n Landscae and Tbe 8eekeeer. 5hc conc|udcs, "l know
hc s dcad, but don't know whcrc and whcn. " 5hc adds that many caIIcd
hcr trom tmc to tmc to say hc was hcrc or thcrc.
Vc cut to thc snow-h||cd bordcr town as thc tc|cvson crcw h|ms an
ntcrvcw wth thc who|csaIcr who scIIs potatocs to Mastroann. Jhcy
thcn o throuh thc poor rctucc sccton n scarch ot hm, hcarn babcs
scrcam. ut thcy cannot hnd hm.
At a dsma| hotc| bar that cvcnn wth a |onc|y sott sax musc p|ayn,
1ML L L L L L 1L L 1ML 1L 67
thc crcw sctt|cs n lor somc rc|axaton. Crcw mcmbcrs dancc and drnk,
but a youn woman Oora Chrskou} sttn a|onc at a ncarby tab|c
starcs at thc rcportcr. Jhcrc s nothn scnsua| n hcr stll-backcd posc,
hcr lo|dcd hands, hcr thn lramc starn sccmn|y nto thc rcportcr's
sou|. lt s, n lact, an unncrvn azc, cut olt lrom momcnt to momcnt by
coup|cs dancn n lront ol thc camcra.
Jhc rcportcr thcn azcs back at hcr, thc two makn contact lor a|most
a lu|| sxty scconds ol scrccn tmc, whch lcc|s, ol coursc, |kc an ctcrnty.
Jhc rcportcr cts up and wa|ks s|ow|y past hcr as shc contnucs to starc.
Hc turns and thcy starc aan. 5hc rscs, and wc scc shc s wcarn a |on
b|ack drcss. ln vcry poscd, mcasurcd s|ow stcps, shc approachcs hm. Hc
|cavcs thc room, and thcy wa|k upstars wthout ta|kn. Jhcy cntcr hs
room. Jhcrc s no sound. Jhcy arc now strppcd. Hc strokcs hcr har.
Anc|opou|os dd not dcsnatc Susended Ste as bc|onn to hs
tr|oy ol s|cncc. ut such a sccnc ||ustratcs how Anc|opou|os has uscd
s|cncc throuhout hs carccr to capturc momcnts ol such ntcnsty-l
mystcry, | oy, mscry, or passon-wthout spokcn |anuac. C|car|y part
ol what hc sucsts throuh such sccncs s that spccch can takc us on|y so
lar. Vc arc thcn laccd wth thc nonvcrba| |anuac ot sounds and musc,
csturcs, azcs, and thus thc vsua|.
Much |atcr wc scc thcm wa|k nto thc cmpty barroom. Jhcrc s thc
sound ot a tran. As thc barroom |ht s turncd out, shc cxp|ans that shc
must o. low thcrc s thc sound ol church bc||s. 5hc wa|ks away and thcn
comcs back to touch hs lacc.
Hc wa|ks a|onc throuh thc snow, comn, hna||y, to thc |nc ot aban-
doncd boxcars whcrc thc rcluccs |vc. Vc scc Mastroann now, spcak-
n to a youn boy, tc||n hm a story about thc luturc whcn "Jhc Grcat
Mraton" w|| takc p|acc. Accordn to ths myth.
lcopIc wII Icavc thcr homcs by any mcans possbIc, and aII thc pcopIc ol thc
carth wII gathcr n thc 5ahara. 1hcrc, a chId wII bc hyng a ktc. And aII
pcopIc, young and oId, wII hoId onto thc strng. And aII ol manknd wII rsc
hgh nto thc sky, n scarch ol anothcr pIanct. Lach onc wII bc hoIdng a pIant,
a handluI ol gran, a ncwborn anmaI. Othcrs wII bc carryng books ol aII thc
poctry man has cvcr wrttcn. lt wII bc a vcry Iong j ourncy.
Jhc boy asks how thc | ourncy w|| cnd. Mastroann docs not answcr. Jhc
rcportcr watchcs a man n a yc||ow rancoat hxn an c|cctrc powcr |nc.
t coursc thc tc||n ol a myth, n ths casc dca|n wth thc tuturc,
rcmnds us ot thc crcaton myth n Landscae. And thc tuncton s vcry
sm|ar. ln both cascs thc myths bccomc a b|ucprnt lor a brhtcr |tcr-
a||y n thc casc ol Landscae luturc, a vson ol maca| and mystcrous
hopc.
68 l l V t l l L N b
5oon altcr, wc scc thc youn woman thc rcportcr has s|cpt wtth comc
to Mastrotannt ' s boxcar homc. 5hc puts thc youn boy-hcr brothcr-to
bcd. 5hc cxp|atns that hcr mothcr dtcd whcn thcy crosscd thc bordcr.
Mastrotannt, thctr "lathcr, " rcturns. Vc now undcrstand that hc has crc-
atcd anothcr |tlc bcyond that |tvcd wtth hts lormcr wtlc Morcau} . lotc
thc cchocs to 5pyros tn who had anothcr wtlc and cht|drcn "ovcr
thcrc" tn thc 5ovtct Lnton. ut tn thts casc tt ts not comp|ctc|y c|car
whcthcr Mastrotann ts hcr bto|otca| lathcr or not. Ltthcr way, howcvcr,
hc ts a lathcr tn actton, conccrn, and bchavtor.
Mastrotannt cxp|atns that hc has bccn worktn a|| day to hc|p rcpatr
thc powcr |tncs that cross thc bordcr, whtch havc la||cn owtn to thc wtn-
tcr wcathcr. Hc thcn tnvttcs thc rcportcr to cat wtth thcm.
Latcr thc rcportcr spcaks aatn wtth thc co|onc|, who tc||s htm that
"chaos" ts brcaktn out hcrc as rclugcc hghts rclucc lor rcasons that can
ncvcr bc known bccausc thcy do not spcak. Jhus "thcy cross thctr bor-
dcrs to hnd lrccdom and crcatc a ncw bordcr hcrc, " hc obscrvcs. 5ud-
dcn|y a |ot ol rclucc womcn arc runntn by, scrcamtn. Jhc rcportcr
lo||ows to scc a rclucc hancd by thc ncck lrom a huc mcta||tc |oadtn
cranc. Vomcn wat| as thc body ts |owcrcd, and thc womcn c|osc tn on thc
body tn a rttua| ol wat|tn that ts both anctcnt and contcmporary.
Jhcn thc po|tttctan's wtlc arrtvcs on thc trat n. Jhc rcportcr mccts hcr
and cxp|atns that hcr husband buys potatocs cvcry day.
Jhc ncxt morntn, altcr anothcr bar sccnc that prcvtous cvcntn, thc
crcw h|m, lrom a dtstancc, thc mccttn ol thc o|d po|tttctan and hts wtlc
on a brtdc tn town. Jhcy stand aztn at cach othcr lrom thc pcrspccttvc
ol thc htddcn camcra. 5hc turns to thc camcra and says, "lt' s not htm. "
Mastrotannt a|so turns to thc camcra.
ut thcrc can bc no ccrtat nty.
Anc|opou|os |cavcs us no way to know lor surc whcthcr Mastrotannt
ts tndccd thc po|tttctan who wcnt on a | ourncy at thc cnd ol thc ccntury,
or tl hc ts stmp|y somconc who rcscmb|cs thc po|tttctan and who sc||s
potatocs and tc||s stortcs ol a luturc mtratton to anothcr p|anct. Vc now
havc a sccnc tn whtch thc rcportcr ts watchtn h|m c|tps lrom thc po|ttt-
ctan' s carccr on a VCK sct up tn thc hotc| bar. Vc scc a youncr Mas-
trotannt addrcsstn lar|tamcnt and thcn wa|ktn out. 5uddcn|y thc
scrccn ocs b|ank.
Cut to Mastrotannt wa|ktn a|on thc shorc ol thc bordcr rtvcr, |ook-
tn lor hsh. Jhc rcportcr ts bcstdc htm p|aytn thc audtotapc madc by thc
po|ttctan lor hts wtlc whcn hc |clt. n thc tapc hc cxp|atns that nonc ol
us has anythtn to ca|| our own, not cvcn a namc, lor that wc on|y borrow
tcmporart|y bclorc |cavtng agatn. Mastrotannt shows no stn that hc rcc-
ontzcs thts votcc, thouh tt c|car|y sounds |tkc htm.
l coursc, a|| can bc cxp|atncd tl tndccd hc has, as hts wtlc c|atms,
1ML L L L L L 1 L L 1ML 1L I 6>
"bccomc anothcr pcrson, " onc who has lorottcn hts past. ut wc cannot
bc comp|ctc|y ccrtan. Mastroann |cavcs as thc tc|cphonc rcparmcn tn
yc||ow ratn wcar wa|k by.
ack n town, thc rcportcr |carns hc must soon |cavc. Hc sharcs a mca|
wth thc co|onc|, who has bccomc a trtcnd. Jhc co|onc| contnucs to act
out hts "chorus " ro|c ol commcntn on thc acton. Hc announccs that a
wcddtn wt|| takc p|acc bctwccn a rclugcc tr| and thc boylrcnd shc
kncw as a cht|d but who s now scparatcd lrom hcr by thc bordcr. Hc
says, "Jhcrc's thc brtdc, " as Mastroannt's "dauhtcr" wa|ks tn. Jhc rc-
portcr stands up, comp|ctc|y cauht by surprsc. C|car|y hc s cmotona||y
allcctcd by ths rcvc|aton. As an accordton p|aycr p|ays and crc|cs hcr,
shc stands, azn at thc rcportcr.
utstdc, thc co|onc| says, "lt's thc bordcr that drtvcs thcm mad. Jhc
boundarcs. " Vhcn hc |cavcs, thc rcportcr says out |oud to hmsc|t, "1hc
on|y thng l havc known s how to h|m othcr pcop|c [pausc] wthout car-
n lor thcr tcc|ngs. " Hc thcn sccs thc gr|. 5hc starcs and opcns thc door
lor htm. Jhcy both cntcr thc hotc|, c|osn thc door bchnd thcm, thc
assumpton bcng that thcy makc |ovc onc |ast ttmc.
Jhcn lo||ows thc most sustancd sccnc ot thc h|m, thc wcddng ot Mas-
troann' s "daughtcr" and hcr bc|ovcd, who |vcs on thc othcr sdc ol thc
rtvcr-that s, across thc bordcr n thc othcr country. Jhc sccnc s stagcd
at thc bordcr rvcr on a ray wtntcr mornng wth Mastrotannt, thc brdc
n a whttc brda| own, and scvcra| dozcn wcddn ucsts standtng wth
thcm as thcy |ook out across thc rtvcr to thc groom surroundcd by an
cgua| numbcr ol hts ucsts. Jhc mcmorab|c wcddn tn Tbe Traue//ing
P/ayers, ol coursc, has prcvous|y ||umnatcd Angc|opou|os's scnsc ol
how thts ccrcmony, whch cmbraccs thc pcrsona|, soca|, hstorca|, and
rc|ous, can bccomc a powcrlu| momcnt. And, as wc sha|| dtscuss, ths
|atcr wcddn sccnc succccds tn dotn so. ut thc sccnc, whch |asts ovcr
stx mtnutcs, has an unusua| powcr tn ts usc ol ctncmattc tmc and spacc
a|onc. Vo|lram 5chuttc has wc|| dcscrbcd ths as Anc|opou|os's ab |ty
to sucst thc strcnth that was possb|c tn st|cnt h|m. "Jhc bcauty ol hts
compostton, hts dcpth ol locus, thc movcmcnt and arrancmcnt ol hs
scgucncc shots" 5} .
lnto ths sombcr yct surprtstn tab|cau, capturcd t n cxtrcmc |on shot
and wth no musc on thc sound track, cntcrs a brtcl |tht momcnt as thc
prtcst arrtvcs on a btcyc|c, dusts hmsc|l oll, and bcns thc ccrcmony. Jhc
sccnc dcptcts an rthodox wcddn, comp|ctc wtth thc b|csstns, thc cx-
chancs ol |aurc| wrcaths, and thc trp|c crc|n madc by thc prcst and
brdc as thc "conrcaton" tosscs rcc, s|cnt|y.
Vc thcn scc thc room across thc rtvcr n thc othcr country rcpcat, but
wtthout a prtcst, thc actons pcrlormcd n Grcccc.
Jhrouhout thc sccnc, thc on|y sound s that ol watcr howtn. Jhc

I Z . 1hc Susended Ste oj tbe Stork. mastroann acts a s a lathcr lgmc at thc
youn woman's wcddng
groom comcs down to thc rvcr and tosscs howcrs nto thc watcr. Jhc
prtcst |cavcs, and thc brdc comcs down to thc rvcr and tosscs n hcr
|aurc| wrcath. 5hc ksscs Mastroann. Jhc ucsts arc bcnnn to rcct
hcr wth a ktss whcn a bordcr patro| rhc shot s hcard, and cvcryonc
scattcrs.
lna||y, onIy thc brdc and groom rcman, scparatcd by thc bordcr,
cach n a dhcrcnt country. Jhcy gazc across at cach othcr. Jhcy cach
ratsc an arm n grcctng, thc rvcr hown bctwccn thcm, and thcy too,
|tkc a suspcndcd stork, rcmatn "suspcndcd" brchy, azng at cach othcr.
Wc now scc that thc rcportcr and hs crcw, n thc bushcs tarthcr up thc
bank, havc capturcd thc who|c sccnc on vdco. As thc crcw packs up, thc
rcportcr rcmans "suspcndcd" too, starn at thc brdc-so brchy thc rc-
portcr's |ovcr-and hcr room. Jhc crcw notccs how tcd nto thc mo-
mcnt hc s. Jhcy back otl, |cavn hm a|onc watchn thc ncw|ywcds.
Jhc brdc turns and runs back ovcr thc h|| to Mastroann, who has bccn
watttng lor hcr. As accordon musc bcns, tathcr and dauhtcr wa|k up
through a group ot barc trccs to thrcc trucks tu|| ot thc wcddn ucsts
and c|mb aboard, thc brdc sttn at thc back ot thc |ast truck. Jhc tc|cv-
ston crcw n thcr truck to||ows at a dstancc, down a |on drt road.
1ML L L L L L 1L L 1ML 1 L 7
Jhat cvcnng Mastroann danccs wth hs "daughtcr, " stI| n hcr wcd-
dng drcss, as thc accordon pIaycr stands and pIays n thc dstancc. Jhc
rcportcr comcs up and danccs a sIow dancc wth hcr as Mastroann
stands sIcntIy by. 5hc stops and thc musc ccascs. 5hc cxpIans to thc
rcportcr. "my husband and grcw up n thc samc vIIagc. Vc comc trom
thc samc racc. tccI hs hand hoIdng mc. nc nght hc'II cross thc rvcr
and comc takc mc. " Jhc rcportcr says, "l'vc ncvcr tcIt Ikc ths bctorc, "
and thc brdc answcrs, "And mc too, " as Mastroann stands, gazng at
both, motonIcss. "l'm n pan, " thc rcportcr says. " And mc too, vcry
much," shc says, as shc turns and runs away nto thc nght. Mastroann
thcn spcaks. "Oo you hcar thc rvcr! Do you hcar t roar! lt roars and
bcckons Ikc that cvcry nght. " lt s, ot coursc, a Inc that cchocs thc young
rccrut who, durng thc roII caII, spokc ot hs tcar ot thc rvcr's roar at
mght. Mastroam cIutchcs hs | ackct around hm to kccp warm whIc
cryng guct|y. Jhc rcportcr comcs up and pats hm on thc back. "l
couIdn't undcrstand, " hc says, t o whch mastroann rcpIcs, "Oon't
worry about mc. l' m happy. " Jhc rcponcr backs away, turns, and, Ikc
thc brdc, runs ott nto thc nght. And hc kccps on runnng.
Lut to mornng. Jhc rcportcr s at thc bordcr and rcpcats thc " sus-
pcndcd stcp" sccnc hc actcd out at thc bcgnnng ot thc hIm. n thc
brdgc, wth onc toot n Grcccc and thc othcr Ittcd, hc hovcrs, Iookng
ovcr to AIbana, as thc bordcr guards watch. Hc backs ott and rcturns to
thc army othccr, who ntorms hm that Mastroann has bccn sghtcd by
a numbcr ot pcopIc Icavng, n dttcrcnt ways and at dltcrcnt Iocatons.
ut aII ot thcsc rcports cIam hc was carryng a sutcasc and hcadng tor
thc bordcr. Jhc othccr concIudcs, "loIcc arc unabIc to conhrm any ot
thcsc storcs. " Jhc rcportcr turns to scc |cannc Morcau standng by a car,
Iookng out across thc Iandscapc. 5hc cImbs nto thc backscat ot thc car
and thc car Icavcs. Jhc othccr toIIows hm too as thcy scc a man n thc
dstancc. "l don't know that s hm or not, but l don't thnk t rcaIIy
mattcrs any morc, " hc says. Jhc man n thc dstancc runs away.
Jhc rcponcr waIks aIong thc Icvcc and sts by thc boy, Mastroann's
young "son, " who tcI|s hm that hc Iast saw hs tathcr waIkng on thc
watcr, carryng a sutcasc. Jhc boy dcparts, sayng that hs tathcr ncvcr
hnshcd a story hc was tcIIng hm. "Maybc hc wantcd you to hnsh t, "
thc rcportcr adds.
Vc rcturn to vocc-ovcr as n thc bcgnnng ot thc h|m. Jhc rcportcr
asks, "Why can't wc assumc that today s Occcmbcr J st, >>>! " ccho-
ng a Inc trom thc mssng poItcan's book.
Hc bcgns to waIk aIong thc Icvcc and wc scc a Inc ot tc|cphonc poIcs,
cach wth a man n a ycIIow rancoat cImbng up, strngng phonc wrcs
bctwccn thcm. 1hc musc s tuII, scrous, and hopctuI. Jhc rcportcr s
tramcd haItng n thc mdst ot thc thrtccn poIcs, and thcn, ahcr momcnts
7Z
ot suspcnston, movtn s|ow|y torward, down toward thc rtvcr as thc cam-
cra pu||s back to catch thc rchcctton ot thc po|cs tn thc rtvcr, crcattn a
vtsua| doub|tn ot po|cs and mcn. As thc camcra pu||s back tarthcr, wc
scc thc othcr stdc ot thc rtvcr, across thc bordcr.
HE EALINC OF A OUCH: ELEMACHUS RANSFORMED
As l havc sucstcd, thc Grcck army co|onc| htas Loothctts} tn thts h|m
tu|h||s thc ro|c ot a Grcck chorus. An outstdcr asstncd to hts post at thts
bordcr town, hc automattca||y has a spccta| pcrspccttvc on cvcnts unto|d-
tn thcrc. Jhus hts tnstht tnto thc tact that bccausc thts bordcr|and arca
ts tnhabttcd by so many rctuccs trom cvcrywhcrc, thcy crcatc thctr own
wor|d. thc rca|m ot thc mythtca| . Jhts wor|d ot myth ts, as statcd at thc
chaptcr's opcntn, a usctu| utdc tor thc youn | ourna|tst and tor us as wc
to||ow thc |ourna|tst on hts gucst tor a "story" to sharc on tc|cvtston.
ln thts pcrspccttvc, thc tc|cvtston | ourna|tst, |tkc thc h|mmakcr tn \oy-
age, rows as a pcrson durtn hts Jc|cmachtan odysscy. hc |carns to o
bcyond hts mcdtum, tc|cvtston tt was h|m tor thc ana|oous charactcr t n
\oyage , to bccomc pcrsona||y and cmottona||y tnvo|vcd wtth othcrs.
Vhcn hc ts ab|c to tc|| thc youn brtdc that hc ts " tn patn, " hts |ttc has
c|car|y chancd. lrom bctn thc a|tcnatcd obscrvcr ot htstory, hc has bc-
comc an acttvc parttctpant tn mythtca| stortcs. Vhat hc cnds up wtth,
thcrctorc, ts not a tc|cvtston show-hts pro| cct ts |ctt tncomp|ctc and hts
crcw has a|rcady dcpartcd. Kathcr hc has atncd tnstht tnto thc | oy and
sorrow ot thcsc bordcr pcop|c tn thts "othcr Grcccc. " Hc has bccn
touchcd by thc |ovc ot a rctucc woman, but a|so by thc p|tht ot thcsc
pcop|c who havc bccn cmbraccd by thc po|tttctan tn hts "ncw" |ttc or, as
hts wttc says, hts |ttc as a "dt ttcrcnt pcrson. " And thc rcportcr has bccn
ab|c to rcach out and touch othcrs htmsc|t. Hc thus has, by h|m's cnd,
bcun to takc thc stcp that wt|| no |oncr bc suspcndcd, thc stcp ot bordcr
crosstn and ot maktn contact wtth othcrs. Hc has, wc shou|d notc, a|so
onc turthcr than A|cxandcr, thc h|m dtrcctor t n \oyage, who rcmatns
thc passtvc obscrvcr, unab|c to ct tnvo|vcd. ln Susended Ste, thc | our-
na|tst has opcncd up and cxprcsscd htmsc|t as A|cxandcr ncvcr docs.
Lct us constdcr J c|cmachus transtormcd morc spccthca||y. ln Homcr,
Jc|cmachus's scarch tor hts tathcr ts, ot coursc, a scarch tor hts own tdcn-
ttty and cmcrtn manhood. A|| ma|c youths nccd thc b|csstn ot thctr
tathcr or a tathcr substttutc t n ordcr to maturc, as lctcr |os statcs. "At
thc tcrmtnatton ot ado|csccncc a ncw stac tn thc |ttc ot thc rowtn son
appcars, whcn thc tathcr's athrmatton ot thc manhood attatncd by hts
son, convcycd tn what wc mtht ca|| thc tathcr's b|csstns ot thc youth' s
tmpattcnt approprtatton ot adu| t prcroattvcs and cnttt|cmcnts, rcachcs a
1ML L L LL L 1L L 1ML 1L 7J
crtca| urcncy" I } . ln Homcr' s cpc, ths b|cssn s rantcd as Jc|cma-
chus not on|y hnds hs tathcr and hc|ps hm c|car lthaca ot thc unwantcd
sutors to lcnc|opc but a|so |carns about hmsc|t and what hc s capab|c
ot accomp|shn n cach cncountcr hc has on hs own odysscy away trom
homc.
ln Susended Ste, thc po|tcan s not |tcra||y thc rcportcr's tathcr
wc |carn nothn ot thc rcportcr's backround} , but t bccomcs ncrcas-
n|y c|car thc turthcr thc rcportcr ocs nto trackn down hs "story"
that hc has onc bcyond thc |mts hc usua||y cxp|orcs n don hs tc|cv-
son documcntarcs and has cntcrcd a pcrsona| and cmotona| wor|d n
whch hc must scc thc po|tcan as a tathcr/dysscus hurc.
n a smp|stc |cvc|, ot coursc, a Homcrc para||c| s morc ot a contrast
than a contcmporary updatn ot thc cpc. Jhcrc s no stron cmbracc
and rcconton sccnc as n Homcr, tor, n tact, "dysscus' s" dcntty s
st|| n gucston by thc cnd ot thc h|m. And thcrc arc no c|car cncmcs/
sutors to dcstroy, tor part ot thc dcspar at thc cnd ot thc ccntury s that
such a Homcrc so|uton s mpossb|c today.
lcnc|opc, thc po|tcan' s wtc, s a|so a study n contrast n ths vcr-
son. lor ronca||y shc cvcn cmbarks on hcr own odysscy to try to hnd
and rcc|am hcr husband, on|y to u|tmatc|y contront ta|urc. "lt s not
hm. "
LANTE HEVISITED: HE IME TO AKE A OYACE S LOME
Susended Ste nvo|vcs, | kc Homcr's Odyssey, a doub|c voyac. ut
Anc|opou|os's cndn-wth thc dysscus hurc takn ott aan, sut-
casc n hand, and Jc|cmachus, poscd on thc rvcrbank, "suspcndcd" oncc
morc, bctwccn rcturnn to hs homc and carccr and scttn ott hmsc|t on
a voyac "somcwhcrc c|sc"-rchccts Oantc' s vcrson ot thc L|ysscs thcmc
as dcscrbcd n thc |njerno. Jhat rctcrcncc, bascd, as notcd car|cr, on a
vcrson ot thc |ccnd prcdatn Homcr's cpc, has dysscus scttn sa|
aan ahcr hs homccomn and rcunon wth lcnc|opc and Jc|cmachus.
And thc h|m's Jc|cmachus-thc rcportcr-scts us up tor such a voyac at
thc bcnnn ot thc h|m n hs vocc-ovcr, whcn hc guotcs Oantc's Inc
about thc nccd to sct ott on a voyac aan.
Jhc mp|catons ot cchon Oantc cxtcnd st|| turthcr. Vc notcd n
chaptcr J that to a dcrcc such a rctcrcncc bccomcs part ot thc bordcr
crossn Anc|opou|os docs bctwccn lta|an and Grcck cu|turcs, wth
thcr many Mcdtcrrancan |nks as wc|| as dttcrcnccs. ut thc Oantc con-
nccton has at |cast two othcr rcsonanccs tc|t n ths hIm. Oantc's c|abo-
ratc vson |ad out n thc Diuine Comedy mxcs hstory, myth, to|ktaIc,
and pcrsona| narratvc nto onc vson-whch s dark Tbe |njerno ,
74
mdd|n |urgatorio , and hna||y, hopclu| |aradiso . lurthcrmorc, thc
who|c vson |cads to a mystca| and u|tmatc|y rc|ous Chrstan} tr-
umph ntatcd throuh hs contact wth a r|-woman, hs bc|ovcd
catrcc.
As usua| n our ana|yss ol Anc|opou|os, thcrc s no nccd to nsst on
any rd doub|n ol pattcrns lrom Oantc n Susended Ste or, ndccd,
any systcmatc and conscous cchong ot Oantc n thc h|m bcyond thc
cncra| pattcrn ol hs vcw ol dysscus as a voyacr who scts sa| oncc
morc, cvcn lrom lthaca tsc|l. ut vcn thc drcct rclcrcncc to Oantc n
thc h|m, wc can brchy notc scvcra| Oantcsguc c|cmcnts n Susended
Ste that contrbutc cvcn lurthcr, l sucst, to ts powcr.
5ccn lrom thc pcrspcctvc ol thc Diuine Comedy, thc rcportcr s much
|kc Oantc, who, at thc bcnnn ol thc |njerno, has |ost hmsc|l n a dccp
wood whcn n hs car|y thrtcs. And | ust as Oantc nc|udcs hmsc|l at thc
ccntcr ol hs Diuine Comedy on a voyac ol pcrsona| sa|vaton, thc | our-
na|st s, as wc know, thc ccntra| hurc ol thc narratvc who actua||y nar-
ratcs to us. A ma|or dllcrcncc, howcvcr, s that wh|c Oantc acknow|-
cdcs on hs hrst pac that hc s |ost, wc do not actua||y hcar our narrator
n Susended Ste acknow|cdc hs condton-thouh wc |on suspcct t
throuh hs bchavor-unt| ncar thc cnd, whcn hc hna||y b|urts out that
hc has spcnt hs |lc h|mn othcrs but not lcc|n lor thcm as pcop|c. Hs
who|c |lc has, n short, bccn a suspcndcd stcp.
Jhc ro|c ol a woman n |cadn a man to sa|vaton n Anc|opou|os's
h|m a|so cvokcs Oantc. Homcr's Jc|cmachus docs not la|| n |ovc on hs
| ourncy to dscovcr hs lathcr and hmsc|l. ur rcportcr n Angc|opou-
|os's h|m, n contrast, comcs undcr thc spc|| ol a youn woman. Oantc
makcs t c|car that t was smp|y thc vson ol catrcc n hs ch|dhood
that allcctcd hm. ln hs casc, ol coursc, thc rc|atonshp dd not o bc-
yond thc azc. And yct that both spccly thc mportancc ol thc azc, ol
such dccp and |astn atlccton arouscd throuh thc cyc, s snhcant.
Jhc mcctn sccnc n thc bar s un|kc any othcr man-woman attracton
and mcctn sccnc l am awarc ot n h|m. Jhc |ong starc trom hcr to hm
as othcrs dancc and thcn, hna||y, lrom hm to hcr as thcr cycs | on s
dlhcu|t to cxp|an n words tcstmony aan to thc powcr ol s|cncc n
Anc|opou|os's work} . Vc cannot dscount that thcrc s scxua|ty, or at-
tracton bctwccn a man and a woman, ntatcd n ths casc by thc
woman. ut ths basc nstnct s not ccntcrcd on thc physca| or carna|.
5omcthn much dccpcr s takng p|acc, and t s don so wthout spokcn
|anuac or cvcn physca| csturcs.
lna||y, thc pa n that thc | ourna|st cxpcrcnccs lrom h s cncountcr
wth thc youn woman and thc Mastroann hurc, tocthcr wth thc
p|ht ol thc rctuccs n cncra|, |cads hm to bc thc knd ol pcrsona| wt-
ncss who rcachcs out to us as wc||. lor t s hs vocc and thus hs story
1ML L L LL L 1L L 1ML 1L 75
that touch us. And t s a story to|d not n thc mcdum ol tc|cvson rcport-
n hc s uscd to. Hc has bccomc a bordcr crosscr n a numbcr ol ways by
thc h|m's cndn, cvcn l hc hmsc|l s not rcady to cross thc physca| bor-
dcr ol Grcccc n scarch ol thc Mastroann charactcr. ut thc potcnta| s
thcrc. And thc Grcat Mraton that Mastroann dcscrbcd s |clt as a
possb|ty.
HE _UEST, \RSON ELLES, AND PNCELOPOULOS
Jhcrc s a sm|arty ol narratvc thrust bctwccn Susended Ste and Citi-
zen Kane that s usclu| to consdcr. ln rson Vc||cs' s c|assc thc undcnt-
hcd rcportcr rcmans much |css an ndvdua|zcd charactcr than thc un-
namcd rcportcr n Anc|opou|os' s h|m wc sc|dom cvcn scc morc than thc
back ol hs hcad, lor nstancc} , and hs scarch lor hs story-thc mcann
ot "Koscbud" as a kcy to thc pcrsonaIty ol thc rcat Ctzcn Kanc-nds
as a comp|ctc la|urc. Vhat Vc||cs |cavcs us wth s onc ol thc most ronc
shots n thc hstory ol h|m. Jhc rcportcr has la|cd to uncovcr thc mcan-
n ol "Koscbud, " but thc vcwcr |carns thc answcr as thc camcra |dcs
ovcr thc vast rcmans ol Kanc' s bc|onns unt| wc scc thc burnn |abc|,
"Koscbud, " on Kanc' s ch|dhood s|cd. Jhrouh thc camcra tsc|t wc
so|vc thc mystcry. And thc rcportcr s |ctt not on|y wthout a story but
a|so wthout a pcrsona|ty or scnsc ol pcrsona| rowth as an ndvdua|.
Hc has smp|y bccn thc mcans by whch Vc||cs has opcncd up Kanc's |lc
lor us.
Jhc Citizen Kane thcmc or narratvc structurc has scrvcd a numbcr ol
h|mmakcrs wc|| lor varous purposcs sncc Vc||cs' s h|m opcncd n >J>.
lcrhaps most notab|c has bccn Andrzc| Va| da' s Man oj Marb/e >77} .
Va| da uscs a youn woman' s cllorts to makc a documcntary thcss h|m
lor raduaton lrom h|m schoo| as a mcans to opcn up lo|and's 5ta|nst
past and sucst thc po|tca| and cu|tura| chancs that |cd to Lcch Va|csa
and thc comp|ctc translormaton ol communst soccty lrom thc bottom
up. Vthn thc " Ctzcn Kanc" structurc Va| da's attractvc youn h|m-
makcr and t s snhcant that hc chosc a woman to bc thc protaonst
dcconstructn tota|taran patrarchy} uncovcrs thc truth that a workcr
hcro lrom thc >50s was actua||y an arthca||y constructcd po|tca|
myth uscd by lo|sh 5ta|nsts. Va| da' s thrust was thus a partcu|ar|y po-
|tca| onc, but as Gcrman crtc Vo|lram 5chuttc has notcd, both Va|da
and Anc|opou|os sharc a sm|ar msson n cncma. to cxp|orc hstory
and cu|turc throuh thc movn mac.
Anc|opou|os' s usc ol such a Vc||csan lramc s |css spcchca||y po|t-
ca| and, as n hs othcr h|ms, morc ol a "|on shot" ol hstory and cuIturc
bcyond thc partcu|ar shtts that havc occurrcd. ln ths Vc||csan |ht,
I 76
Anc|opou|os has c|car|y vcn us a rcportcr wth morc dcpth who s cvcn
morc c|car|y thc ccntcr ol thc narratvc than thc rcportcr n Citizen Kane,
sncc Anc|opou|os' s h|m opcns and c|oscs wth thc rcportcr's vocc-ovcr.
thus thc cntrc h|m bccomcs a part ol hs cxpcrcncc, whch hc has nar-
ratcd and sharcd wth us. Vc||cs crcatcs gutc an oppostc cllcct, lor hc
bcns and cnds outstdc ol thc rcportcr's scarch by havn thc camcra
track nto thc cast|c|kc Kanc cstatc at thc momcnt ol Kanc's dcath n thc
opcnn and thcn trackn away lrom thc cast|c, past thc NO TKE55PA55
l NG sn, at thc cnd. Jhc rcportcr's scarch n Citizen Kane s actua||y a
scarch wthtn thc |arcr gucst ol thc camcra as a mctanarratvc lorcc to
"trcspass" and dscovcr. ln contrast, lor a|| ol hs usc ol |on shots and
dcna| ol tradtona| c|osc-ups, Anc|opou|os has, ncvcrthc|css, ccntcrcd
thc h|m on hs Jc|cmachus hurc.
Vthn ths pcrspcctvc, Anc|opou|os a|so sucsts that "Koscbud"-
thc |lc ol thc mssn Grcck po|tcan-hancs lor thc unnamcd rc-
portcr. Hc docs not hna||y ct hs tc|cvson documcntary, thc "hstory"
and "rca|ty" hc has bccn trancd to crcatc. ut hc s bcnnn to o
throuh a translormaton by h|m's cnd, touchcd by thc youn woman
and by Mastroann's dcas thc rcportcr paraphrascs hs book n thc hna|
sccnc} that havc |cd hm to a pcrsona| undcrstandn and acccptancc ol
"Koscbud. "
Hc has, n short, hna||y bccn touchcd and ottcn n touch. wth hmsc|l
and othcrs. Jhnk ol how many cllorts to touch-physca||y and cmo-
tona||y-arc madc throuhout thc h|m. Jhc co|onc| rcachcs out to thc
| ourna|st and ocs bcyond hs duty as an assncd olhca| by, lor n-
stancc, touchn hs hand n a csturc ol sympathy whcn thc | ourna|st
|carns that thc r| hc has | ust bcun to |ovc s to bc marrcd thc ncxt day.
Jhc wcddn ccrcmony conductcd across thc rvcr bordcr s thc most ob-
vous casc ol "touchn" bcyond thc physca|. Jhc | ourna|st hmsc|l hus
thc po|tcan's wlc n thc strccts ol Athcns whcn shc lcc|s |ost n hcr
scarch lor hcr husband, and hc pats thc po|tcan on thc shou|dcr whcn
hc, |kcwsc, cxprcsscs pan.
n a morc |hthcartcd notc thcrc s a|so thc marvc|ous sccnc ol thc
man by thc rvcr scndn musc tapcs across thc bordcr n an act ol sma||-
sca|c b|ack-markctccrn-a dchntc lorm ol communcaton but a|so ol
p|casurc sncc thc tradcrs actua||y p|ay thc musc as t ocs across thc
bordcr.
lna||y, thc motl throuhout thc h|m ol thc mcn n yc||ow rcparn
thc downcd phonc |ncs, a roup that thc Mastroann hurc cxp|ans hc
has workcd wth, shlts lrom bcn a backround thcmatc c|cmcnt to
bcn lorcroundcd as thc ma|or c|osn mac. At onc pont as thc | our-
na|st wa|ks a|onc a|on thc rvcrbank, thcrc arc thrtccn po|cs and thus
thrtccn mcn wthn thc lramc, cach pcrchcd at thc top ol hs po|c, rcach-
1M L L L L L L 1L L 1M L 1L K 77
tn out to conncct thc |tncs bctwccn thcm, whtch, wc havc bccn to|d by
Mastroann, w|| bc rcconncctcd wth |ncs across thc bordcr. ln a story
that thc chorc hurc has warncd us shou|d bc takcn as mythca|, thc cnd-
n bccomcs not on|y that but bb|tca| as wc||. Vc havc spokcn ol thc
nhucncc ol yzantnc conoraphy on Anc|opou|os's work. lowhcrc s
t morc apparcnt than n ths c|ostn mac. Jhc mmcdatc connccton
audcnccs cvcrywhcrc makc, ol coursc, s to thc Cruchxon. |ust as |csus
wt||tn|y wcnt to hts sacrthcta| dcath, so thcsc mcn havc vo|untar|y onc
up thcr po|cs n an cllort to hc|p makc thns bcttcr. And bcyond thc
mac ol thc cructhx, lor thosc tn thc rthodox tradton thcrc s anothcr
htstorca| mac cvokcd. thc sty|ttcs, thosc rc|ous hurcs, ma|c and lc-
ma|c, who dcdtcatcd thcmsc|vcs to God by stttn on po|cs or co|umns n
tso|atton lor up to thrty ycars or morc. Lu s uuc| has pa d satrtca|
trbutc to thcm tn hs |orous|y trrcvcrcnt Simon oj tbe Desert.
Yct Anc|opou|os's mac ts onc ol mystcry and hopc and thus rcp|cn-
shmcnt that transccnds thc pcrsona| pan lc|t by thc | ourna|st. Jo havc
cndcd thc h|m wtth thc | ourna|tst standn a|onc by thc rtvcr wou|d havc
bccn cnouh to cvokc a|| thc othcr rtvcr sccncs, most cspccta||y thc wcd-
dtn sccnc. ut tt wou|d havc cmphastzcd hs pcrsona| odysscy a|most to
thc cxc|uston ol any wdcr thcmc. Vtth thc tc|cphonc mcn h||n thc
lramc ol thc hna| shot, howcvcr, wc and thc | ourna|tst arc |ltcd bcyond
oursc|vcs, bcyond hmsc|l. Jhs c|ostn mac ts madc a|| thc stroncr as
an tmac ol an cxtcndcd touch or communcaton whcn wc consdcr thc
h|m's opcnn mac. thc drowncd bodcs ol thc Astan rcluccs n thc sca
wth army hc|tcoptcrs hovcrtn ovcr thcm. Jhat mac tru|y docs match
thc po|ttctan's book ttt|c, Desair at tbe End oj tbe Century.
A|| ol thcsc cllorts to rcach out add up to ncw lorms ol communtty or,
tn Anc|opou|os' s words, thc posst b|tty ol a "ncw humantsm. " Vc havc
bccn to|d, by thc co|onc| and by thc youn boy, conI|tctn stortcs ol
whcrc thc po|tttctan wcnt, but thc common thcmc to thc "myth" s that hc
has crosscd thc bordcr. Jhus thc addcd stnthcancc ol thc hna| shot, c|ab-
oratc|y orchcstratcd by Anc|opou|os to show us thc rcportcr approach-
tn thc rtvcr as thc camcra ttsc|l crosscs thc rtvcr. Vc cross thc bordcr n
a rcvcrsc tracktn shot as l tnvttcd, |kc thc rcportcr, to o lunhcr. Jhc
camcra work ttsc|l s ollcrtn thc hca|tn touch ol movcmcnt bcyond
boundartcs.