Arts Brand Upon the Brain!
posted by on October 12 at 9:30 AM
I saw Brand Upon the Brain! last night at the the Cinerama, and I enjoyed every minute of it. It was an extremely rare cinema experience. Once in a lifetime, I daresay. A silent film, featuring exclusively local actors, shown with a live score performed by a 15-piece orchestra. Plus, three lab coat-wearing mad scientists (from the ever-creative Aono Jikken Ensemble) generating all of the sound effects from the floor of the theater. Their array of sound toys was just mind-boggling. A creaking door sound made by sliding together pieces of ratcheted wood. The bubbling beakers in a lab mimicked by one of those beer-straw caps. The amazingly accurate sound of a fire created with cellophane and bubble wrap. And to top it off, the film’s writer and director providing narration. The choreography of these 20-odd people with the movie was flawless—beautifully conceived and perfectly timed.
All of that being said, I found the film itself to be rather silly. It started out as a very promising melodrama, as the lead character returns home to an isolated lighthouse after a 30 year absence. You get the feeling that it is going to evolve into a melancholy meditation on nostalgia and solitude, but instead it launches into 50 directions at once, becoming a campy zombie-Hardy Boys-Psycho mash-up. Buñuel this ain’t. It’s being screened at the Northwest Film Forum for the next four days with a pre-recorded soundtrack and narration.
As a live spectacle? I wouldn’t have missed it. As a film by itself? I wouldn’t bother.
I wished they would've had an afterward Q and A so I could have asked Guy about the incest theme that runs through a lot of his films. That wouldn't have been uncomfortable at all.
Whoa, slow down! It's only 9:30 and you're way ahead. Pacing! I haven't even had a second cup of coffee, how am I supposed to comment on this stuff?
The quality so far has been worryingly high. How many days have you been working on this stuff in advance?
Gurldoggie 3, Original Andrew 2, SDA in SEA 1, Comte 1. Where's that New York dude, he's got a three-hour head start on you.
Thank god... someone finally used a photo.
The twisting of celery ribs = forcible wrenching of body in rigor mortis was the best effect by far.
I missed that one Annie! There was so much going on at every moment, it was so hard to know where to focus your attention!
I was with you for the first half of your post - I went on Wednesday and it was probably the coolest thing I've ever been to, ever - but I think the film was great. Have you seen Maddin's work before? He's a goddamned motherfucking genius, and the way he completely defies expectations and will go absolutely anywhere is a big part of it.
Seriously, you would have preferred a melancholy meditation on nostalgia and solitude to a mad scientist father, resurrection via orgasmic heart-to-heart resuscitation, hot girl-on-girl action, and disturbing abuse of children? SNORE!!!
So, so good. Guy Maddin is my hero.
Clearly Gurldoggie was not already familiar with Guy Maddin's previous work--brain- mashing silliness is a hallmark of all his best films. And that is why we love him.
I agree with #6. It was brilliant through and through. Might be my favorite Guy Maddin film.
What are you talking about, Gurldoggie? How can you perceive things like a hamster running on a wheel and Rumania birthmarks as "rather silly"?
In any case, you failed to mention that Katherine Scharhon is smokin' hot. It was all too easy to be crushing alongside Guy.
I agree completely, Gurldoggie. Event: A+. Film: C-.
Comments Closed
In order to combat spam, we are no longer accepting comments on this post (or any post more than 14 days old).