Tag Archives: Film

German Film Directer Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe

by Editor

He’s a German film director named Werner Herzog and in 1980 he made a bet with another filmmaker that if that other guy actually finished his first feature film Herzog would sit down in front of cameras and eat his own shoe. The friend did finish his movie, and so Mr. Herzog sat down to dine upon his footwear. During the strange event, he talks about how deadly television is and how we must fight its influence. It’s an old refrain, but he puts it in a way that I’ve not heard before. He goes on to talk about how we as a culture have not developed adequate images.  I’m not sure he’s right about this, but he certainly thinks he is and that’s always fun to watch. He is deadly serious about what he’s saying, but of course you must not forget that during it all he is cooking and eating a shoe. I always love to see people who are being funny while being totally serious.

Noteboek: A Tricky Hand-Drawn Live-Action Film

by Editor

Noteboek is one of those films that illustrate what personal filmmaking is. It’s an artist’s hand-made, direct expression. Evelien Lohbeck is the performer and animator in this little gem. There’s something a little Chaplin-like in her clever tricks with drawings and food. I love the part where she’s reflected in the drawing in her notebook. This is really excellent and gently humorous work.

A Wolf Loves Pork: Stop Motion Photo Animation

by Editor | 1 Comment

Takeuchi Jaijin made this film by photographing the action in stop motion then photographing the photos again in his room.  He makes the action seem to take place all along his walls, countertops and floors.  I love the way the boy dives into the filled sink and swims across!  The photo animation technique reminds me of the photo collages of artist David Hockney.

Thanks to David Pescovitz at BoingBoing for posting this.

It is Repose in the Light: A Film by Jennifer MacMillan

by Editor | 2 Comments

It is repose in the light, neither fever nor languor,
on a bed or on a meadow.

It is the friend neither violent nor weak. The friend.

It is the beloved neither tormenting nor tormented. The beloved.

Air and the world not sought. Life.

— Rimbaud, “Vigils”

This film is by Jennifer MacMillan who runs the Invisible Cinema blog where she posts about experimental film and her own poetic interests and observations. She makes many wonderful short films that are the highlight of her blog. She made this one to accompany a poem by Arthur Rimbaud.  Beautiful and thought-provoking.

Film Taken From Streetcar in 1908 Barcelona

by Editor

Here’s an absolutely fascinating film shot from the front of a streetcar in Barcelona, Spain.  Look at the way the people in the city of 1908 run along with the streetcar trying to see and be seen by the camera.  They seem to be full of joy and excitement.  They run along and ride bikes and wave.  Can you imagine people acting this openly today?  There’s something profound in this little film.  It just goes on along the tracks and through the crowds of happy onlookers without trying to make a point of any kind, but it makes a strong impression.  Wonderful film.  Watch it through to the end.  It will make you feel inexplicably happy.