I went to the NFT in London tonight to see a programme of 4 shorts.
2 Norman McLaren films including Pas de deux; the excellent, unknown to me, Black Tower by John Smith (directed, written, featuring) and ...
Film. Buster Keaton's silent, b/w collaboration with Samuel Beckett from 1965. I knew of it but went without information or expectation.
Has anyone else seen this? It is an astonishing short film - 21 minutes - of almost divine, small comedy and strange terror; with about half of it seeming to be a welter of circulations by the camera of the same, near bare room, Keaton's face only shown in the final frames.
It's the 'story' of a man with cataracts who scuttles through a derelict city, clinging to the walls, hiding his face. It becomes apparant that he is literally hiding from sight, from being seen. Everywhere are eyes - in passers-by, a neighbour, his cat and dog, the window, a mirror, a caged bird, goldfish, painting, even two drilled slots in the back of his rocking chair and a pair of circular tags on a folder of photographs.
Keaton's performance - all but the final moments shown from behind - is perfection but some of the camera motion as it haunts him in his room is sublime.
This is a masterpiece, gripping and lovely in its rhythms as jazz.
2 Norman McLaren films including Pas de deux; the excellent, unknown to me, Black Tower by John Smith (directed, written, featuring) and ...
Film. Buster Keaton's silent, b/w collaboration with Samuel Beckett from 1965. I knew of it but went without information or expectation.
Has anyone else seen this? It is an astonishing short film - 21 minutes - of almost divine, small comedy and strange terror; with about half of it seeming to be a welter of circulations by the camera of the same, near bare room, Keaton's face only shown in the final frames.
It's the 'story' of a man with cataracts who scuttles through a derelict city, clinging to the walls, hiding his face. It becomes apparant that he is literally hiding from sight, from being seen. Everywhere are eyes - in passers-by, a neighbour, his cat and dog, the window, a mirror, a caged bird, goldfish, painting, even two drilled slots in the back of his rocking chair and a pair of circular tags on a folder of photographs.
Keaton's performance - all but the final moments shown from behind - is perfection but some of the camera motion as it haunts him in his room is sublime.
This is a masterpiece, gripping and lovely in its rhythms as jazz.
Comment