- Helen Edgeworth

- Apr 29, 2020
- 1 min read
Berberian Sound Studio [2012] Peter Strickland
John Stezaker (1949 - )


Berberian Sound Studio [2012] Peter Strickland
John Stezaker (1949 - )


In follow up to my research into The Locked Room Experiment and how it could apply to my experimental film. I decided to investigate more into the ideas of artistic isolation, which take more prevalence in the current lockdown environment. I thought perhaps this idea of artistic isolation I could implement into the main focus of the film frustration.
Although shot in 1966, Hold Me While I'm Naked predominantly uses the camera as a handheld self-portrait that acted as a video diary. This made me think of modern technology and how most people can't go without filming their daily lives. The film also shows the Kuchar's lack of satisfaction as he makes his own character self punishing as we are met with an image of him banging his head against a shower wall out of frustration.
I liked the use of the handheld shots to show how frustrated and self-critical Kuchar is in the film which I think could apply to my ideas.

Tea Leaf [1988] by Ruth Novaczek is a short documentary film on the frustration of her life as a Jewish woman in the 80s. It was shot of super 8 and then re-filmed on two projectors to create the superimpositions. I feel this film gave a good sense of frustration in the use of the disjointed music juxtaposed with Ruth’s monotone narration. The superimposed images were also equally frustrating to watch as half the time during the film you couldn’t see a clear image of what was shot. I feel this relates to my work as Novaczek uses clips from her own personal archive like I wish to do in the edit for this film.


This excerpt from Sharits' 1968 film. Is the best example of what people think when it comes to experimental film. The whole thing is rather confusing and has no narrative for the audience to unpick. Hence, why I think it's perfect to link the idea behind my film.
Sharits' stony expression attacked by a colourful kaleidoscope of short edits, create an epileptic frustration on the eye. What I liked in this film was it's seemingly incongruous and monotone audio of the word "destroy". As it seemingly had no link to the images on screen I feel to the audience it's frustrating to watch.
On reviewing Sharits' work it also leads me to think of an idea for my film which is to place an epilepsy warning for flashing lights at the start of the film so the audience prepares themselves for flashing lights only for no flashing lights to appear in the film.
