A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH (1946) - ♦♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger

Written by - Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger

Starring - David Niven, Roger Livesey, Raymond Massey, Kim Hunter

"A wartime British aviator is able to cheat death at the last minute after he falls in love with an American radio operation who talks to him through what should have been his final moments. Realizing the mistake, a celestial council summons him to the heavens to attend a trial in which he must argue for his life. 

A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH was released in the US with the title of STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN. But the original title seems far more appropriate, given the fact that at its core, the film carries a message of the power of love, stronger than anything in the world or the next, and able to oppose the laws of nature, life and death. 

There is also an interesting political backdrop that must have played some influence in the construction of the story. The film was in fact produced shortly after the end of the second World War, a time in which Britain and the US risked disagreements on the partition of powers in Europe. At the time, in fact, the film was criticized by British audiences for being too pro-American, but chances are that most of this will not be picked up by a modern audience. 

The film is infinitely more attractive when admired for its excellent ability to juxtapose a sense of fairytale awesomeness with a dominating intimate feel. It was not the first time master directors POWELL and PRESSBURGER were able to mix spextacularity with warm hearted British brand of cozyness and class, neither would it be the last, but the nature of their stories which ties the earthly world with something more imaginative makes it seem particularly dreamlike. 

Nevertheless, the more imaginative side of the story is supported by the organic way in which it is brought to the screen, through an organic and ambitious production. The fantastic work of ALFRED JUNGE on production design gives a clear and distinctive representation of paradise, mixing elements of the real world society of its times with more abstract elements. The ambition of the production can be easily illustrated by the fact that, in the film's most memorable sequence that sees the aviator taken up to the other world by way of an escalator, a huge real escalator was built. 

The two worlds are also kept apart by the distinctive choice in cinematography. The events taking place on earth are shown in colour, while the ones taking place in the other world are shot in black and white.

This wish to keep A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH firmly planted in something very real is reflected in the story itself. The aviator survives, but is left with a brain damage and must undergo a delicate brain operation. At no point are we fully sure that what happens in the other world is not simply fruit of his own imagination, and the cleverness of POWELL and PRESSBURGER finally juxtaposes the two worlds in the film's final sequence, by editing together the sequence of the brain operation with that of his celestial trial. 

In essence, A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH is pure cinematic magic. The lush production values are a treat for the eye. The concept and story is captivating and poetic without being loud or over the top. And while the tone of the film is widely melodramatic, it is made all the more entetaining by its great use of sense of humour, that makes all the characters seem all the more endearing."

Fantasy, UK