One of the common methods of making a no-budget abstract film was to scratch or paint directly onto the film itself, a technique popularised by Len Lye in the 1930s. Mothlight (1963) by Stan Brakhage works a variation on the process by gluing broken moth wings, leaves and other bits of natural detritus to a length of film. It only runs for three minutes but it’s a classic piece of experimental cinema. As usual with Brakhage, the titles are hand-drawn, and the film itself is silent.
Elsewhere on { feuilleton }
• The abstract cinema archive
Beautifully alluded to in Strickland’s The Duke of Burgandy.
Remember reading that when Tarkovsky visited the States a screening of Brakhage’s films was arranged. Tarkovsky was nonplussed, resulting in awkward moment when the directors were introduced.
Oh, I didn’t know Strickland referenced this. I’m still waiting for DoB to appear on disc.
No surprise about Tarkovsky, really. I love his films but for all their poetic moments they’re filled with people incessantly talking and philosophising. I can see how fragmented, silent cinema wouldn’t make a great deal of sense.