Movielogr

Rating: 5.5 stars

Tags

short film black and white avant garde experimental

All movies seen on 01/11/2021

View on: IMDb | TMDb

The Geography of the Body (1943)

Directed by Willard Maas

Experimental | Short

Overview

A quotation from Aristophanes, “The desire and pursuit of the whole is called love,” precedes views of a man and a woman’s bodies, often in extreme close up. Off-screen, a voice recites fragments of oracular literature and purple prose. We see an eye, an ear, a mouth, a tongue, bits of hair, a hand, the tips of fingers, toes. Occasionally, the frame includes a larger scape of a body: a chest, a back, a breast. Usually the camera is stationery; sometimes, it moves across a body, remaining in close up. They hold hands for one moment. The bodies are without clothes; no genitalia are visible.

Length 7 minutes

Actors

Marie Menken | Willard Maas | George Barker

Viewing History (seen 1 time)

Viewing Notes

Earlier in 2020 I was watching some experimental shorts via MUBI (I think) and wanted to see in the InterLoan had any others from one of the directors. This Avant Garde 2 Experimental Cinema 1928-1954 DVD appeared in the catalogue so I requested it. However, this was post-lockdown and the libraries had already closed. Then when they finally resumed service this DVD set still sat in my hold list. I knew it was likely Northbrook Library (I was correct) and they weren’t allowed any network requests. Welp much to my surprise I rec’d a “pick-up” notice for this set after 2021 started. Guessing Northbrook PL finally loosened up their rules.

Anyways, this is the first short on the set… a very avant garde look at the naked human body from a variety of angles and close-ups with an equally bizarre narration. Some of the imagery is uncomfortable viewing the extreme close-ups but this is exactly what I was hoping. Off to a good start!

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