In retrospect, the films or cinematic fragments I have discussed in this book can be seen to have a common feature: they all say what they do not mean to say, what eludes their desire to signify reality — but they say it nevertheless, with the strength that comes with obsession and hopeless fascination. As a matter of fact, if there is hope in communication, indeed if communication sometimes magically succeeds, it is because we somehow manage to see through the message we receive from the other and, for the most part unintentionally, locate the excessive enjoyment that 'stains' it.