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Experimental Film Called 'Exciting,'By KUHV EDELSONIn the second of Its three-part series of Monday night showings of experimental films, the Ringllng Museum offered a varied program that was high in visual excitement. These films invariably take us te a realm separate and distinct fromthe general run of commercially produced movies. Most are the work of a single individual, and indelibly bear the stamp of that person’s vision. These experimental film makers realize that the camera can do more than record real worlds, or the imitation of reality in filmed fiction. An object can be introduced out of its usual context, jolting the viewer into reaims of pure imagination.★ ★ itThe first film was an excellent pendant to the exhibition of Magritte and Tanguy which is now at the Museum. It took us into the strange world of surrealist painter Paul delvaux. The camera, roving over the surface of the canvases, showed bleak, classical landscapes mostly populated by soft - fleshed naked women. The effect is erotic, but there is no sense of joy or any communication between the sexes. Symbols of death are often present. A poetic narrative by Paul Eluard accompanies but unfortunately French with no English subtitles“Mambo” 4a gift to the world. She is met by all the forces of materialism and convention, which are shocked by the nakedness of truth. They attempt to clothe her, but she escapes to find a more sympathetic reception from the common people. A class war ensues in which many followers of The Idea are slain, but her spirit survives to light theway for many yet unborn.“Go Slow on the Brighton’* is billed as BBC’s answerv to cinerama. By camera magic the hour-long journey from London to Brighton is compressed ■ into four minutes. In this way we are given the illusion of a headlight view from a train moving at supersonic speed. This is decidedly not for those with weak stomachs. Ed“Dance Chromatic” animated abstrac-Emshwiller'iis anothe ram :interpretation of Latin music, was strongly Reminiscent of McLaren’s “Be Gone Dull Care,” the best oflast week’s abstract films. An astounding profusion of Images by For dan Belson flood the screen. Christopher Young’s “Object son” uses inanimate objects tosymbolise the decay of our earthly paradise before the force of man’s rapaciousness. Classical statues serve as the “players” inlandscapes ravaged by war and exploitation of resources.“The Idea” by Berthold Bar-tosch is both the longest and oldest film in the program. Based on a woodcut novel by Frans Maser-eel, it is the firstanimated filmwith a serious theme. We see an artist or thinker pondering at his window. His brain becomes radiant, and as a universe is born In a spiral nebula. The Idea is bom of the light of his intellect. The idea takes the form of a naked woman. The artist cherished his brainchild but relinquishes her astion except that in this case the artwork is fused with the motions of a live dancer. Oriental flavored music by Lou Harrison accompanies this brilliant combination of painting and dance. This can truly be called action painting.★ ★ ★“Loving” by Stan Brakhage hada good idea which suffered in its execution. Two lovers are found in a forest clearing. After that idea is established, the frenetically restless camera sweeps to the evergreens, the sur. breaking through the foliage, amd back to fragmentary views of the lovers' flesh tones. The films drawbacks lie in its sameness of pace throughout, and occasional technical flaws. Ralph Hirsfcom’s “End of Summer” injected a rare element ofhumor into the avant-garde idiom.From the hilarious credits, with a take-off on the J. Arthur Ranktrademark, the film unravels a serious of tongue - in - cheek episodes witnessed by a girl in winter clothes who pulls a sled through summery scenes. The sled itself appears to be some kind of parody on the symbolism of Orson Welles’ famous “Citizen Kane.”This program was much more varied and exciting than last week’s, and next Monday’s promises to be even more so. The program will present more classicsof satire, abstraction, and erotica. It will be the last chance in somewhile for adventureventure into uniqueimagination.spirits to
Newspaper Details
Sarasota News
Sarasota, Florida, US
Tue, Nov 14, 1961
Page 9
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USA 19 Feb 2020
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