Experimental Films

Glass Lips (2007) D: Lech Majewski 3/5

This is a collection of short films connected to one another through a central character named Sebastian who lives in a mental institution. Majewski takes the viewer along an interesting and quiet journey of Sebastian recollecting his entire life in this surrealistic portrait. Imaginative visuals and the lack of any substantial dialogue create a very eery atmosphere and a thought provoking ambiguity. The Polish director has a great sense of creativity and presents a dark and challenging collection that really leaves interpretation up to the viewer.

Gummo (1997) D: Harmony Korine 4/5

Gummo, along the same lines as Glass Lips, is a series of separate scenes and actions assembled together. In this case, however, Korine follows a set of characters living in a fictional small town in America that was devastated by a tornado years prior and never fully recovered. Some scenes are quite disturbing or might seem unnecessary, but overall Korine effectively portrays the dark and depressed vision of a backwater town. This film might be uncomfortable for many, but its unique scene structure and realistic portrayal of a destitute town transports the viewer into it's own psychotic little world.

Hukkle (2002) D: György Pálfi 4/5

Hukkle is the Hungarian word for hiccup, and in this film we open with an old man who has a bad case of the hiccups, which sets the tone of the movie. What makes this murder mystery unique is the use of sound-sounds are the backbone for the flow and movement of the story. Pálfi uses minimal dialogue and emphasizes the unusual happenings around the town through animal, machine, and other noises. The visuals present an interesting look into what village life might be like in Hungary and we gain intimate knowledge of the village characters inside their homes. The larger message to take away from this film is revealed quite clearly at the end through the lyrics of a song, which explains an unbalanced gender relationship promoted in Hungarian society.

Tokyo! (2008) [3 shorts]: I. "Interior Design" D:Michel Gondry II. "Merde" D:Leos Carax III. "Shaking Tokyo" D: Bong Joon-ho 5/5

The concept for this movie is basically combining three relatively short films with unrelated stories set against the backdrop of the city of Tokyo, Japan. Each short has its own surrealistic and imaginative story and all are equally entertaining. Interior Design is about a Japanese couple who move from a small town to Tokyo, Merde is about a man-like creature with a red beard living in the sewer system of Tokyo, and Shaking Tokyo centers around a reclusive man who has not left his apartment in many years. Merde shines in particular as one of the most bizarre films ever created and surprisingly also one of the most thought-provoking films of late. All I can say is that Merde is quite comical, and oddly striking at the same time, begging the question of what it's message might be- that of separation between the self and society? ...or maybe it is merely one big practical joke. However you decide to interpret this story and the others, they are certainly worth watching for the innovative visual effects at the very least.