30/1/2012: Experimental films

In preparation for our experimental films project we watched several films of that genre, some in the bizarre abstract style that many people associate with the genre to more conventional and structured films that were easier to follow, here's a selection:

"Ballet Mecanique" by Fernand Leger (1924)


Fernand Leger - Ballet mecanique (1924)

An example of what many will think of when experimental film is mentioned, this early attempt at abstraction could be best described as an "assault" on the senses, with loud and fast music accompanying seemingly random bizarre imagery, this film is very heavy on the eyes and ears and many will find it quite off putting (myself included), personally I don't find this sort of film appealing at all as it felt unpleasant and repetitive. However I do respect that at the time it was quite revolutionary in ignoring narrative conventions and attempting something which few people at that time had. The music does feel like something out of an intense ballet production and while there are themes present in the film such as industrialisation and feminism, these only exist as flashes of imagery in what feels like a mess of ideas.

"Star Guitar" by Michel Gondry (song by The Chemical Brothers) (2002)

Star Guitar - The Chemical Brothers from Chen VM on Vimeo.

Music videos can be considered short films in their own right, this one in particular is moulded to the song it accompanies and for every new beat or addition to the track a new layer of imagery is added and an object passes the camera, again containing the theme of repetition, the video sucessfully replicates the sort of hypnotic and rhythmic sometimes musical depiction of a train journey (that people who have iPods and travel a lot might be familiar with). I also enjoyed the almost abstract element of seeing the same scenary pass multiple times, which makes me wonder how the whole thing was filmed and edited.

http://flamin.filmlondon.org.uk/showcase/assets/showcase_items/fisticuffs"

"Fisticuffs" by Miranda Pennell (2003)


(I couldn't find a link to the full film, so this is just an extract)

Resembling the TV series 'Shameless' and with hints of a Shane Meadows film 'Fisticuffs' is a British example of an experimental piece, incorperating the themes of a Western film, with seemingly pointless bar fights that just seem everyday for the bar's patrons and cowboy costumes in the dancing scene. There is an essence of ironic humour which is native to British media where the increasingly violent and and brutal fighting are comedically placed alongside elderly people talking over a pint and partaking in Western style dancing. There are a few artsy moments in the film such as the begining in which the same actions are repeated and scenes in which the same people are seen in two parts of the room simultaniously, perhaps adding a theme of deceipt, making the audience expect one sort of film, only to be surprised when it changes.