Brakhage
by Jim Shedden
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Jane Brakhage, Jerry Aronson, Marilyn Brakhage, Philip S. Solomon, Stan BrakhageDirector: Jim Shedden
Brand: Zeitgeist Films
Cinematographer: Alexa-Frances Shaw
Editor: Alexa-Frances Shaw
Producer: Alexa-Frances Shaw
Cinematographer: Gerald Packer
Cinematographer: Kathryn MacKay
Cinematographer: R. Bruce Elder
Cinematographer: Richard Kerr
Cinematographer: Robert Pytlyk
Writer: Jim Shedden
Producer: Ron Mann
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 73 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-07-27
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Zeitgeist Films
Movie Reviews of Brakhage
Movie Review: Filmmaking Inspired by Radical Rhythms and Abstraction
Summary: 5 Stars
Throughout his entire career, Stan Brakhage has struggled to remain true to his personal vision of filmmaking. Jim Shedden has captured the details of this remarkable journey in his seventy-five minute documentary "Brakhage". It is the captivating story of a filmmaker who goes inward in order to find the existential meaning of his art.
The documentary weaves observations by film critic Bart Testa, filmmaker Phil Solomon and film historian P. Adams Sitney around both recent and historical interviews with Stan Brakhage and his family. It shows just enough of Brakhage's original film art to whet the appetite for the Criterion Collection's "By Brakhage" DVD set. Brakhage originally shot his early works in an economically demanding 16mm film format, but later, also worked extensively with the more frugal 8mm. He wanted to "live with his films" in order to be able to work with and contemplate them as an integral part of his domestic life.
There are two major arcs to Stan Brakhage's career. The first involves his years of marriage to Jane and the many autobiographical films that were made in the setting of their Colorado mountain home. The second body of work was generated after his second marriage to Marilyn. It involves the hand painting of clear film stock with colored markers and dyes. Many of these films, from both periods, are intended to be viewed in silence in order to help heighten the viewer's sense of sight.
The "Brakhage" documentary does, however, contain an audio score by James Tenney. Tenney is an experimental musician who has done pioneering computer audio research, with Max Mathews at Bell Labs, back in the early 1960's. In this film, Mr. Tenney's sparse sound work infuses an air of bittersweet mystery into both new and archival film footage.
For fans of avant-garde cinema, the experience of encountering "Brakhage" will be one of quiet inspiration, gentle surprise and welcome education. This is an important film to add to any personal library on contemporary art.
Summary of Brakhage
From 1952 until his death in 2003, Stan Brakhage created almost 400 films. Working completely outside of the mainstream, he consistently redefined cinematic art with such celebrated pieces as WINDOW WATER BABY MOVING (his first wife giving birth) and MOTHLIGHT (leaves and butterflies taped to celluloid), as well as a host of films hand-painted in shockingly brilliant color including DANTE?S QUARTET and BLACK ICE. Juxtaposing archival footage spanning 35 years, as well as rare film excerpts and vintage and contemporary interviews with Brakhage, his friends, family, colleagues and critics, BRAKHAGE is the perfect complement to the Criterion Collection?s BY BRAKHAGE DVD. Executive produced by Ron Mann (GRASS, TWIST), Jim Shedden?s stunning, bittersweet portrait explores the depth and breadth of Brakhage?s genius and the exquisite splendor of his films.Similar DVD Movies
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