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Dust [Region 2] | ![Dust [Region 2]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VHZnr0DmL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Milcho Manchevski
Actors: Joseph Fiennes, David Wenham, Adrian Lester, Anne Brochet, Nikolina Kujaca
Category: DVD
This item is no longer available
Rating:  22 reviews
Format: Pal
Languages: English (Original Language), German (Original Language), Macedonian (Original Language), Turkish (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 2
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5060002831410
ASIN: B00008OP5J
Theatrical Release Date: 2001
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Amazon.com
Mortality and graphic slaughter are central to Macedonian director Milcho Manchevski's first film since 1994's Before the Rain. In modern New York a young man, Edge (Adrian Lester), breaks into an apartment inhabited by old lady Angela (Rosemary Murphy), who then tells him a story at gunpoint. In Angela's surreally symbolic tale, set around 1905, there are two feuding brothers: gunfighter Luke (David Wenham) becomes a bounty hunter in Macedonia; Bible-quoting, vengeance-seeking Elijah (Joseph Fiennes) follows, and hell goes with him. Dust is part contemporary drama, part spaghetti Western homage--with the Ottoman Empire forces standing in for the Mexican army--and all meditation on the nature of cinematic myth-making. The performances are variable, but a plethora of movie references, particularly to various Sergio Leone films, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and The Wild Bunch, combine in a stylish and provocative fable that bears comparison with The Usual Suspects and Sex and Lucia. It also echoes Ararat (2002), in which a production crew makes a film about the 1915-18 Turkish genocide of the Armenians. Taken at face value the plot stretches credibility, but as a reflection on the nature of storytelling, Dust is an ingenious concoction. --Gary S. Dalkin
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| Customer Reviews: Read 17 more reviews...
 Worthy and Modern Western December 16, 2008
kristin724 (New Jersey USA)
If I say my favorite character in The Lord of the Rings is Faramir, the answer I receive isn't "Oh! I love him, too!" Or "I can't believe they changed him from the book!" No it's usually, "Who?" If Faramir is so under appreciated, what does that say for his actor? Beloved Australian actor David Wenham is so little known in the US, I've had to search long and hard online for Region 1 DVDs then wait weeks for them to arrive.
Such was the case with Dust. The 2001 western also starring Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare in Love) was only $6 on Overstock. Cheap and I've always loved westerns! Besides, it looked good-and more importantly-was a Region 1 release. Three weeks later, when at last the DVD was out of the mailer and into my laptop, my first shock was that it wasn't a tale of the Australian west. This is the American west, yet it takes place is contemporary New York City. Stay with me!
We open with Edge (Adrian Lester) a down on his luck hood who's breaking into someone's apartment. The crone inside (Rosemary Murphy) however is much more than Edge bargained for. The feisty old woman holds Edge at gunpoint and tells him a story. If Edge wants her wealth and hidden gold-he is going to listen to Angela's tale of the old west. When cowboy brothers Luke (David Wenham) and Elijah (Joseph Fiennes) both fall for Lilith (Anne Brochet) trouble brews. Seeking thrill and adventure, Luke travels to Turkey and becomes a mercenary in the Ottoman War-ever trying to escape gospel sprouting Elijah.
Both storylines presented by director Milcho Manchevski (Before The Rain) seem simple and overplayed at face value. Young black guy and white old woman bond over feuding cowboy brother love story. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Strange it is, though, that these two types of stories are together in one film. The flashbacks, humor, and characters break the time and place divides between them, and the action moves seamlessly between events. It seems almost absurd to start, but once belief is suspended, you become invested in the characters. You simply must see how these stories conclude.
Naturally you can't go along with people you don't like. David Wenham's Luke is the main character of the film, yet his dialogue is next to nothing. Strangely Joseph Fiennes is billed first even though he's only a handful of critical scenes. In most cases, Crone's narration speaks for them both. Occasionally annoying as narrators are, Angela's voiceover here makes her own storyline better-and it saves us from Wenham's odd American accent. He tries, but it's somehow off; a mix between Southern, Texan, and set back one hundred years. Wenham, however, excels in facial expressions, and his non-vocal performance speaks more than most. Not just in looks and glares, but physically Wenham takes on the rough cowboy bumps and bruises and pains. You look at Luke and just know that had to hurt. Wenham's heart and soul is onscreen, and regardless of what you've seen him in previously he is Luke here.
Pleasantly surprising in Dust is Adrian Lester (Hustle) as Edge. He excels beyond his witty dialogue and sarcastic remarks. I must admit I know nothing of him, but his banter with `Crone'-the nickname he gives Angela, the physical action and pain, he's a great tough guy mixed with despair. It's not tough to see how the parallels between Edge and Luke come about. Both characters end up different from where they started. The relationships between Luke and Lilith and Edge and Angela do not take the traditional road. It's odd that Dust was hyped as a western romance on the cover when in fact very little romance or Old West action takes place. Am I complaining? No.
One sore spot in Dust is Joseph Fiennes. His work prior in Shakespeare in Love and Enemy at the Gates has not impressed me, nor has he here. Where his real life brother Ralph Fiennes takes on varied roles and genres (The English Patient, Red Dragon, Harry Potter), Joseph seems to play the same one dimensional character over and over. Elijah is supposed to be a God fearing wronged husband with a vendetta against his brother, but we don't see that in what little we see of him. With a different angle on the script from Manchveski, Dust could very well be Elijah's movie. As it stands, Elijah is the very definition of a supporting character-merely reacting to Luke's courses of action.
On the other hand, Dust's small supporting cast does a fine job; The crooked cops chasing Edge, the Ottoman mercenaries and army leaders on both sides. They look the part. Anne Brochet is pretty run of the mill as Lilith, but Nikolina Kujaca's portrayal of the pregnant guerilla wife Neda is beautiful, exotic, graceful, and poised.
Dust brings to light an obscure part of history for me. Truly, had I known the movie was more about the Ottoman wars, I might not have tuned in. The Old West scenes are standard and brief enough, but they serve their purpose. Where Dust really sells itself is in the contemporary New York abode of Edge and Angela. It's odd to say, but the New York City captured in Dust no longer exists-the pre September 11th city. Today we like to paint New York as a new and rebuilt, revitalizing the American Way! Dust, however, captures what many New Jersey folk like myself thought of New York pre 9/11; Dirty, dark, heinous violence and crime. Edge is every bit a child of his society, as Angela is hers. We want to see her pass the torch to him before it is too late. We want Edge-the violent offender in the film's opening scene-to make it. The storylines come through and circle together. I suspect it's where the title comes from; ashes to ashes, dust to dust. And hey, while I'm on a sappy note, Dust does offer a few handsome shots of the World Trade Center.
Dust's European scenes were filmed on location, and Manchveski succeeds in setting up his exotic locales and foreign conflicts. The action is unfortunately a bit confusing sometimes. When we first meet our friends and foes in Turkey, it's tough to tell who is who. Perhaps a few characterizations are not politically correct today, but it's a movie dramatizing a specific time, and Edge's commentary on the past events keeps things light hearted. Manchveski's interview and behind the scenes features on the DVD also shed light on the story, characters, and locales; Seeing his thoughts and philosophies add to this unusual tale. Unfortunately, there's not much else to supplement the DVD, but with a film such as Dust-where performance and story are more important than action-there isn't much to add. Dust speaks for itself-no extras needed.
I've seen far more avant-garde films, but fans of the offbeat, period piece, or artsy film should pick up Dust at the first chance you can get. The violence and sexual situations are not meant for children, and guys looking for chicks won't find them here. David Wenham fans have no doubt already discovered this movie, but for American audiences looking for a film with substance, Dust is a must see.
 Bust November 26, 2007
Rickster333 (Florida)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Dust is NOT your typical western. It is impractical that a dying, elderly woman would befriend her apartment trashing/thieving thug, especially after he coldcocks her. Equally as rediculous is that this same thug would have genuine feelings for her at her dying bedside, a day after placing a gun to her head making demands....just stupid!
This movie can be gorey also (ex: shooting and slitting the throats of sheep/goats, disembowelment, decapitation, etc.)
Not sure I understand the positive reviews but that's just me.
Not recommended.
Dust - a review August 27, 2007
Simon H. Murray (Attica)
Thought as many probably did, that Dust was a sleeper of a Western Outlaw kind of film. Dust is not that, it is so much more! Dust starts out in modern day NYC where a young man breaks into an apartment, looking for something. As he ransacks the place, something from the past is soon discovered. The film bounces back and forth from the present day to a day nearly 100 years earlier in which two brothers fought their way over dangerous ground. The scenes depicting the Turkish soldiers are gritty and bloody, and as the film rolls along it does not get deep with mystery, but strong with storytelling. I do not want to give away any more than that, but I will say this one really surprised me.
Hodge Podge Higgledy Piggledy Here I Come August 30, 2005
Nancy Becker (California)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
I picked this up because I recognized the stars and because, according to the dust jacket, the director had done some worthy work in the past.
I didn't mind jumping from here to there with only a gossamer thread to cling to. I'm not generally opposed to body count. I thought the suckling sucking tobacco was gratuitous, but that's me. I guess the point there was: 'this ain't Kansas', morals and values were completely different.
One thing this movie taught me: watch the 'extras' first, a thing I have mostly avoided. The director's explanation of his intent made the movie make sense.
I will buy this movie, what's more I will buy another to give as a gift.
REAL deal May 23, 2005
M. Konstantinov (Saint Lucia)
7 out of 10 found this review helpful
OK, obviously some of the people writing the reviews here don't know a thing about the history of the Balkan region, and most of them don't care, so they condemn the movie as a bad, bloody or nuisance, but in fact, this people have no clue what they are talking about.
I can say this movie is full of emotions, full of realistic facts and real scenes... As far as I can see some people asked where is the movie happening?!? I mean, c'mon... if you give this movie a chance to take you places, you should know where it's taking you: The great little country Macedonia. And if you want to see a part of Macedonian history from the turn of the century, well this is it, and it's as real as it gets, although there are things even more horrible than what is shown in this movie that the Ottoman Empire soldiers were doing to the people. So enjoy the agony (as some people called the horrific scenes) and learn from the history...
I would say you need to watch this movie not with a bag of popcorn in your lap, nor with a bunch of buddies around trying to make themselves interesting, you need to see this movie with an open mind.
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