Intermediate Video Spring '07: Comment on Peggy Ahwesh and Margie Strosser's "Strange Weather"
I'd love to hear what your thoughts on this film are. So if you're to shy to say it in class, say it here!
A little info on the work of Peggy Ahwesh can be found here:
http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/directors/03/ahwesh.html
A little info on the work of Peggy Ahwesh can be found here:
http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/directors/03/ahwesh.html
posted by damian at 1:37 PM
4 Comments:
It was pretty interesting. About the film itself, I think that the narration was suppose to depict the life of heavy drug users, and that it accomplished. At the end of the viewing, I was pretty angry at the main actress because of her character's personality and life style.
As far as the pixel vision camera goes, that was pretty sick. To think that you can create a video of a pretty high caliber on a kid's toy. Its like Elliott Smith's Roman Candle, the album sounds pretty awesome for being recorded on a 4-track to audio casette. Granted, it was mixed in a studio, but regardless.
The shots themselves were interesting in the way that they were so tightly cropped, almost made you feel like you were in there. I think that this added to my feelings of helplessness and anger after the viewing, since it brought me into the picture. The overcast skies and the high contrast really add to the tension of the film also.
The use of the PixelVision camera in “Strange Weather” questions the role of the tool itself. The meaning of the child’s play toy is distorted in what appears to be a drug-abuse melodrama. I found myself wondering whose perspective was being presented by the narrator? Was the person behind the camera a social documentarian, like photographer, Nan Goldin, who worked in intense, close proximity with her subjects and their intimate lives, or was this an entirely fabricated piece? Initially I questioned the fidelity of the people presented and their scenario, which is why I referred to the piece as a melodrama. As the film progressed I began to be more affected by the sensation of the tight, enclosed shots as mrche described. The length of the shots became uncomfortable, added to by abrasive audio elements from noises captured near the camera. I was disappointed to learn that there was extensive editing in post-production of this film, as well as the use of actors, rather than real people. However, in creating tension with the equipment, acting, and post-production, it was an effective piece and was interesting to compare with Sadie Benning’s videos using the PixelVision camera.
The use of the PixelVision camera in “Strange Weather” questions the role of the tool itself. The meaning of the child’s play toy is distorted in what appears to be a drug-abuse melodrama. I found myself wondering whose perspective was being presented by the narrator? Was the person behind the camera a social documentarian, like photographer, Nan Goldin, who worked in intense, close proximity with her subjects and their intimate lives, or was this an entirely fabricated piece? Initially I questioned the fidelity of the people presented and their scenario, which is why I referred to the piece as a melodrama. As the film progressed I began to be more affected by the sensation of the tight, enclosed shots as mrche described. The length of the shots became uncomfortable, added to by abrasive audio elements from noises captured near the camera. I was disappointed to learn that there was extensive editing in post-production of this film, as well as the use of actors, rather than real people. However, in creating tension with the equipment, acting, and post-production, it was an effective piece and was interesting to compare with Sadie Benning’s videos using the PixelVision camera.
As a stranger to pixelvision I was really taken with this piece. Visually I enjoyed the high contrast it presented, something I often attempt to utilize in my work. It created an atmosphere which felt secretive, dirty, and desperate. In terms of content I felt the piece didnt have as much to offer. The tales of crack addicition didnt seem to break any new ground and left me feeling slighty depressed but mainly bored.
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