Põrgu (Hell): good versus evil in homage to a 20th century Estonian surrealist artist
Rein Raamat, “Põrgu (Hell)” (1983) While watching “Wax or the Discovery of Television among the Bees”, I noticed that Thronoi the Bear who had uploaded this…
Experimental Films
Multi-media Presentations, North American Films
Wax or the Discovery of Television among the Bees: a moral and political film under the visual overload
David Blair, “Wax or the Discovery of Television among the Bees” (1991) One of my favourite science fiction films since I first saw it in the…
The Trip (dir. Kihachiro Kawamoto): lesson on Buddhist attitude to suffering falls short on what it should teach
Kihachiro Kawamoto “Tabi (The Trip)” (1973) Very striking little animation piece, reminiscent of an extended Monty Python cartoon piece, “The Trip” looks quite simple and has…
French and French-language Films
Anemic Cinema: experimental film of spirals wears its welcome out quickly
Marcel Duchamp, “Anémic Cinéma” (1926) Here’s an intriguing 7-minute animated film that consists of a sequence of spiralling patterns, either of actual spirals or concentric circles…
French and French-language Films
Entr’acte: brave and experimental film-making with no linear narrative
René Clair, “Entracte” (1924) This film’s title derives from its originally being an interlude between two acts of a ballet. Director Clair deliberately sought to make…
Our Lady of the Sphere: experimental film’s welcome wears out quickly
Larry Jordan, “Our Lady of the Sphere” (1969) An intriguing and colourful film, “Our Lady of the Sphere” is based on the Bardo Thodol, a Tibetan…
French and French-language Films
Les Astronautes: droll and inventive animation collage film about an irrepressible scientist-hero
Walerian Borowczyk, Chris Marker, “Les Astronautes” (1959) An entertaining little film short, “Les Astronautes” is a stop-motion animation collage of photographs copied, cut and pasted onto…
Din of Celestial Birds: exploration of evolution and development of consciousness in short film
Edmund Elias Merhige, “Din of Celestial Birds” (2006) Astonishing little film – it’s just 10 minutes long – about evolution and the development of consciousness, “Din…
French and French-language Films
La Jetée: a brave experiment in film-making about the nature of time and memory as it depicts a tragic romance
Chris Marker, “La Jetée” aka “The Jetty’ (1962) Unusual in its use of still black-and-white photography to tell its story of time travel, this short movie…
Palindromes: dark comedy fable of Western society’s exploitation of children and value of life
Todd Solondz, “Palindromes” (2004) A dark comedic fairy tale about a girl trapped in a life that goes around in circles, “Palindromes” does have the air…