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Rating: 5.5 stars

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short film avant garde black and white experimental kino video sculpture art woman director

All movies seen on 01/14/2021

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Visual Variations on Noguchi (1945)

Directed by Marie Menken

Experimental | Short

Overview

A voice occasionally says a word or two: “on the sidewalk” or “lithium” or a woman’s name. A hand-held camera frames parts of sculptures, or moves across their surfaces, sometimes slowly, sometimes quickly, almost always in close-up. The soundtrack, in addition to the voice, is discordant music. Light and shadows are paramount. Sometimes the camera repeats up and down movements; once, a set of jump cuts brings an object closer. The music can be shrill in contrast to the sculptures. Almost entirely of wood, they are the work of Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988): Abstract, usually smooth and rounded (but not always).

Length 4 minutes

Actors

Viewing History (seen 1 time)

Viewing Notes

Eh this is okay but not quite as compelling as the films in this collection*.

*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.

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