L'homme à la valise [The Man with the Suitcase] (Chantal Akerman, 1983)
Mar
11
close quarters
Henri (Jeffrey Kime) and the woman (Chantal Akerman) at a claustrophobically small table, each eating their breakfast. The woman has a baguette, a bowl of coffee, and a cigarette. Henri takes up most of the table with a serving tray holding a whole box of Pelletier toast, a plastic milk bottle, and a coffee pot. He's also manspreading. DP: Maurice Perrimond.
Close quarters: US premiere of 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016).
A filmmaker (Akerman) reluctantly hosts a guest (the always imposing Jeffrey Kime) in her already cramped quarters. His increasingly expanding presence in volume, sight and sound are insufferable for the quiet cineast.
1980s
“I have often thought it was very arrogant to suppose you could make a film for anybody but yourself… I like to think of The Falls as my own personal encyclopaedia Greenaway-ensis.” The Falls (Peter Greenaway, 1980)
Mar
1
US Constitution – 1781
A blonde wearing a floppy hat with peach-coloured ribbons and bird feathers attached to it, sits in front of three small whiteboards with study material such as pictures of waterfalls and pilots. Next to her a little fuse box, and on it a small, white fake bird and an orange-yellow egg. DPs: Mike Coles & John Rosenberg.
An important list in remembrance of the ratification of the Constitution of the United States on March 1, 1781.
– Peter Greenaway, via
Ninety-two people, all with a surname starting with f-a-l-l, survive unexpected catastrophes known as VUEs (Violent Unknown Events). These individuals experienced curious ailments, such as mutations of evolving into a bird-like form, speaking new languages, and becoming immortal.
This film, a list, describes them all.
“The film is about observing, about glances that see without being seen, a dubious art of light and visibility.”Der Riese [The Giant] (Michael Klier, 1983/1984)
Feb
15
freebie: a movie from 1984
A woman, we only see her hands, waits at a counter while clutching her purse. Her handbag is next to her. The camera focusses on the small space reserved to count out money. DP: n/a.
January 21 redux: a film from 1984 on the date Orwell died (1950).
– Michael Klier, via
According to Harun Farocki, Der Riese was the first narrative film completely compiled out of surveillance footage.
“Mother, didn't you know there are children starving in Africa?”Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (Todd Haynes, 1987)
Feb
4
A brunette Barbie doll representing Karen Carpenter makes a statement in front of the White House. DP: Barry Ellsworth.
– “Karen Carpenter”
War Machine (Duvet Brothers, 1984)
Jan
21
the passing of Orwell
A repurposed TV still of a battle ship billowing thick black smoke with the text WAR MACHINE superimposed over it.
A scratch video from 1984 on the date Orwell died (1950). Date of production is either 84 or 85.
“A candy-colored clown they call the sandman
Tiptoes to my room every night
Just to sprinkle stardust and to whisper
'Go to sleep, everything is alright'”Blue Velvet (David Lynch, 1986)
Jan
19
lights
Ben (Dean Stockwell) miming Roy Orbison's In Dreams using a work light for a microphone. DP: Frederick Elmes.
Lights on the date in 1883 that #ThomasEdison first switched on overhead electric lighting.
– Roy Orbison, In Dreams (1963)
David Lynch at his finest Anger, and Stockwell at his peak. The work light was improvised when Lynch noticed Stockwell handling it between shoots.
“Yes, it's story time on WJAD in the heart of Times Square, New York, New York. The city so nice, they named it twice.”Times Square (Allan Moyle, 1980)
Jan
10
1967
A bus on Times Square with a large (expensive) ad asking people to be on the lookout for a Pamela Pearl, born January 10, 1967. DP: James A. Contner.
– Johnny LaGuardia, on the air
“They pulled in just behind the fridge
He lays her down, he frowns
“Gee, my life's a funny thing
Am I still too young?”
He kissed her then and there
She took his ring, took his babies
It took him minutes, took her nowhere
Heaven knows, she'd have taken anything”Mauvais sang [Bad Blood / The Night Is Young] (Leos Carax, 1986)
Jan
8
David Bowie's birthday
(Alex) Denis Lavant in a scene set to David Bowie's Modern Love. DP: Jean-Yves Escoffier.
A [favourite] scene featuring a Bowie song for David Bowie's birthday (1947).
– David Bowie, Modern Love (from Let's Dance, 1983)
“I'm a man in search of his true self. How archetypically American can you get?”Altered States (Ken Russell, 1980)
Jan
7
Wed
Eddie Jessup (William Hurt) in his tank. Around him visions of clouds, fishes, the ocean. DP: Jordan Cronenweth.
– Eddie Jessup
Wojna Światów – Następne Stulecie [The War of the Worlds: Next Century] (Piotr Szulkin, 1981)
Dec
18
1999
Reporter Iron Idem (Roman Wilhelmi) bringing the news. DP: Zygmunt Samosiuk.