ajb-3 Reviews

Triangle (1994)

An intricate weave of dance

[8/10 · 14 June 2005]

A most interesting look at dance and choreography which really needs several viewings.

This film is based on almost abstract concepts (the artist's mother is an abstract painter herself) and consists of a stream of movement, derived from three human figures against neutral backgrounds. They are highly stylised and beautifully simplified.

Triangles abound - in the shapes, gestures and movements of the figures, their complex inter-relationships (on several levels, including the sexual), the geometrical patterns on the screen, the symmetries of colours used, even the whole intricate structure of the film.

A fundamental aspect of the work is the great variety of music by Charlie Hart and the way the figures react to, and are created by, it.

Erica Russell grew up in South Africa, and was - as she says - "not exposed to Television". I think this film shows the value of such an upbringing.

Heroes of Comedy (1995–2003)

Curate's egg....

[5 May 2005]

This series was also issued as a single two-and-a-half hour single compilation programme, as reviewed herewith.

A bit of a curate's egg... good, but only in parts.

My main objection is the highly fragmented and frenetic nature of the programme - as if speaking to an audience with the attention span of a slightly concussed bee. Flick, flick, flick: two seconds of this, three seconds of that, four seconds of the other person speaking - just as you get interested, it's gone again. I must say, I find this approach to the viewer to be somewhat demeaning, not to say insulting.

However the glimpses, albeit distressingly fragmented, are nevertheless of great interest; the whole thing is well worth wading through if one is interested in the history and evolution of comedy. It contains several rarer items not easily to be found elsewhere.

Worth persevering with, on the whole.

Beastly Behaviour (1994– )

"Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it...."

[30 April 2005]

No offence, Cole Porter, but this isn't so much 'love' as 'sexual intercourse' - in graphic and often intimate detail. The subtitle "The Definitive Guide to Extreme Sex in the Animal Kingdom" is accurate. Cast in the format of an illustrated lecture by Prof. Roger Knightly, A.R.S.E., the series of miniatures (reviewed here in the continuous edit released as "The Long One") reveal much biological detail of which the ordinary educated viewer may previously have been happily unaware.... and it's all perfectly true, we are assured.

For myself, I don't care for the style and look of the animation which strikes me as a little crude - though perhaps I am missing a deliberate point here - but it is redeemed by the narrative and the creative and witty sound effects which perfectly complement the thoroughly dynamic action depicted, no holds barred, on-screen.

Not the deepest of belly-laughs, perhaps, but all jolly-roger good fun nevertheless....

Butcher's Hook (1995)

Your guess is a good as mine....

[7/10 · 22 April 2005]

The revenge on a taxidermist by his subjects --- or is it? --- This is a phantasmagorical miasma of disagreeable impressions, competently handled. Throughout the piece the atmosphere and cleverly manipulated sounds leave a disagreeable impression...... I was reminded of the better-known works of Jan Svankmeyer, in particular the scene from "Alice" where she is attacked by the mounted specimens from her room. The taxidermist himself is reminiscent of someone --- who? --- but he is familiar to short animations cognoscenti, no doubt. I dare say I have missed the reference. This piece leave a distinct flavour lingering in the mind, for better or worse... Or have I missed the point? Your guess is as good as mine, but look at the film if you can....