settima

1980s

O Território [The Territory] (Raúl Ruiz, 1981)

Apr

2

Nature Day

The Territory (1981)

A man and woman, plus a little girl perched on the man's shoulders, hike through an illusory landscape. DP: Henri Alekan.

Two American families, adults and their children, go on a #HikingTrip somewhere in the south of France. They find themselves increasingly lost, not only in #nature but also in and among themselves.

 

Supposedly based on a real troublesome event and riddled with much filmmaking adversity, O Território nearly stranded as much as the hikers did. In support, #WimWenders used the same cast for his Der Stand der Dinge (1982), about a film crew's attempt to remake #RogerCorman's Day the World Ended (1955).

 

In a wonderful, unscripted circular way, Corman was one of the executive producers of Ruiz's film.

Red & Rosy (Frank Grow, 1989)

Apr

1

National Handmade Day

Red & Rosy (1989)

Big Red (Rico Martinez) high on adrenaline. DPs: Frank Grow, Ralph Hawkins & Rico Martinez.

All you need for a movie is a gun and a girl. Or a girl with a glue gun. Or skip the girl, get yourself a piece of cardboard, some foam latex, and a six pack of beer. Frank Grow's Red & Rosy is the embodiment of a special staple of #DIY culture that appears to be long-lost. Really kids, you don't need much of a budget. Or tomorrows latest equipment. The hottest Hollywood hotshot? Forget about it, ask your drunk uncle to yell at the camera for 10 minutes. You want authenticity? Tape some random medical footage straight from your teevee. Need a shot of adrenal juice?

 

Well, just watch this.

American Dreams: Lost and Found (James Benning, 1984)

Feb

24

National Trading Card Day

American Dreams: Lost and Found (1984)

A Hank Aaron trading card from director James Benning's personal collection. Below it a scrolling text quoting from Arthur Bremer's diary.

Bakit Dilaw Ang Kulay ng Bahaghari? [Why Is Yellow the Middle of the Rainbow?] (Kidlat Tahimik, 1984/1994)

Jan

23

First Philippine Republic Day

Bakit Dilaw Ang Kulay ng Bahaghari? (1984/1994)

Young Kidlat Gottlieb Kalayaan in the midst of defacing political pamphlets of Ferdinand Marcos. DPs: Kidlat Tahimik & Roberto Yniguez.

“When you work with the cosmos, suddenly you get ideas for how to treat some visuals, like some images that had no intention of being in the film. That’s the freedom of the independent. Normally when you’re making a movie, it's almost pre-set, what elements will go in, so it will have “a unified structure”. But for me, I shoot so many things impulsively, that once I start editing a movie, suddenly there is an imperative for this obscure shot to come in here … or there. You keep juggling until you find on organic flow. You don't have a script, you just do it by feel. You're surprised that audiences like it.”

– Kidlat Tahimik, via

Fetish & Dreams (Steff Gruber, 1985)

Jan

16

National Boston Day

Fetish & Dreams (1985)

Michèle (Michèle Rusconi) and S. (Steff Gruber) in front of a mirror. While she combs her long dark hair, he films the reflection of the both of them. DP: Rainer Klausmann.

Swiss documentary maker S. (Steff Gruber) explores New York's high-tech dating market when he slowly comes to the realisation that he himself is lonely. Trying to track down the woman he saw on the plane en route to America, S. and his crew find themselves in Boston.

“Fifty ways to meet your lover”

– computer dating ad