The films of STAN BRAKHAGE, KENNETH ANGER & MARIE MENKEN
1961, 1hr 15min, video
Four basic visual themes dominate PRELUDE: (1) the four elements, air, earth, fire and water; (2) the cosmos represented in the stock footage of the sun, the moon, and the stars; (3) Brakhage's household- himself, his dog and cat, his baby, and particularly his wife's nude body; and (4) artificial, yet purely filmic devices such as painting or scratching in film, distorting lenses, double exposure and clear leader. --P. Adams Sitney “The film breathes and is an organic and surging thing . . ”--Michael McClure
1947, 15min, 16mm
In FIREWORKS I released all the explosive pyrotechnics of a dream. Inflammable desires dampened by day under the cold water of consciousness are ignited that night by the libertarian matches of sleep and burst forth in showers of shimmering incandescence. These imaginary displays provide a temporary release. A dissatisfied dreamer awakes, goes out in the night seeking a "light" and is drawn through the needle's eye. A dream of a dream, he returns to a bed less empty than before.
"FIREWORKS comes from that beautiful night from which emerge all the true works. It touches the quick of the soul and this is very rare." - Jean Cocteau
1958-61 4min, 16mm
Original score by Teiji Ito. "A new sound version of this classic. It is a beautiful experience to see her fabulous shooting. The cutting is just as fabulous and is something for all to study; the new score by Teiji Ito is 'out of this world' with its many leveled instrumentation. Marie says 'These animated observations of tiles and Moorish architecture were made as a thank-you to Kenneth for helping to shoot on another film in Spain.' Shot in the Alhambra in one day." -- Gryphon Film Group
