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Avant-Garde 2: Experimental Cinema 1928-1954

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The First Avant Garde collection from Kino International is my all time favorite film collection. I was therefore quite exited when I learned that Kino was issuing another one. The following review is my humble opinion of this collection.

I have to admit that Avant Garde 2 is far from as good as the first one. The transfer is better (almost perfect) and the sound/music is really good, but many of the films are just kitsch. Some of the films are interesting while few of them are really good.

Almost all of the films are from USA which may explain the weakness of this collection (Avant Garde came late to maturity in America). Coriously the most famous American Avant Garde film is missing from this collection, Namely "Meshes of the Afternoon" by Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid. It does how ever have four early films by Brackage and two of them are really good ("Interim" and "Unglassed Windows Cast a Terrible Reflection"). The third good American film in this collection is the classic "The Fall of the House of Usher" by James Watson and Melville Webber (the transfer of the film is amazing).

There are three French films on the disk and all of them are excellent ("Pacific 231", "Arriere saison" and "Venom and Eternity"). Venom and Eternity is a classic Avant Garde masterpiece (presented in a longer version than previously seen in the USA; a 111 min. version). It has not lost any of its punches and is a must see for anyone interested in Avant Garde and the limits (and the nature) of the Film language.

To sum it up. There are 17 films in this collection, 6 of them are really good, about 4 are interesting, but the rest is kitsch (IMO).

And Finally, here is the list of the films:

DISC ONE

GEOGRAPHY OF THE BODY
US 1943 B&W 7 Min.
Willard Maas
THE MECHANICS OF LOVE
US 1955 B&W 5 Min.
Willard Maas and Ben Moore
VISUAL VARIATIONS ON NOGUCHI
US 1945 B&W 4 Min.
Marie Menken
THE POTTED PSALM
US 1946 B&W 18 Min.
Sidney Peterson & James Broughton
THE CAGE
US 1947 B&W 28 Min.
Sidney Peterson
HOUSE OF CARDS
US 1947 B&W 16 Min.
Joseph Vogel
CHRISTMAS, U.S.A.
US 1949 B&W 13 Min.
Gregory J. Markopoulos
ADVENTURES OF JIMMY
US 1950 B&W 10 Min.
James Broughton
INTERIM
US 1952 B&W 24 Min.
Stan Brakhage
UNGLASSED WINDOWS CAST A TERRIBLE REFLECTION
US 1953 B&W 29 Min.
Stan Brakhage
THE WAY TO SHADOW GARDEN
US 1954 B&W 11 Min.
Stan Brakhage
THE EXTRAORDINARY CHILD
US 1954 B&W 13 Min.
Stan Brakhage

DISC TWO

REBUS-FILM NO. 1
US 1928 B&W 15 Min.
Paul Leni
THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER
US 1928 B&W 12 Min.
James Watson & Melville Webber
PACIFIC 231
France 1949 B&W 10 Min.
Jean Mitry
ARRIÈRE SAISON
France 1950 B&W 15 Min.
Dimitri Kirsanoff
TRAITÉ DE BAVE ET D'ÈTERNITÉ
(Venom and Eternity) France 1951 B&W 111 Min.
Jean Isidore Isou

This is an essential collection of avant-garde titles from the 1940s and 1950s containing some very rare films. The films of Brakhage (at least his early titles), Marie Menken, Sidney Peterson, James Broughton and Gregory Markopoulos are all difficult to see and it is extremely valuable to have them in this collection. These are all major artists of the period who should be better known. Apart from Brakhage, who has a wonderful collection available on a Criterion disc, most of the these filmmakers' films have not been availble on DVD in the past. They are crucial to the early development of the American avant-garde in what has often been referred to as its "psycho-dramatic" or "trance" period. Whether we refer to them as psychodramas, trance films or simply poetic avant-garde films is not really what matters. They are important films and helped define what the medium was capable of, as well as redefining the idea of poetic cinema.
It's great to finally see Sidney Peterson's first film (made with James Broughton)on DVD (The Potted Psalm) as well as a Workshop 20 production made with students at the California School of Fine Arts (The Cage). I'd also love to see The Lead Shoes and Mrs. Frenhofer and the Monotaur finally released on DVD - perhaps in another future collection. Peterson is one of the few true surrealists of the cinema, and his work is mind-bendingly original. Markopoulos has been inaccessible for decades, so to have even one film (Christmas, USA) by him is important. Again more Markolpoulos next time. Broughton's films are available in a more complete, separate collection, so his film (Adventures of Jimmy) is less crucial to have but is nonetheless a welcome addition to the package. It's also great to have a couple of rare Brakhage titles (Interim, Unglassed Windows Cast a Terrible Reflection, and The Way to Shadow Garden.) The Watson and Webber version of The Fall of the House of Usher is very important and logically should have appeared in volume 1 of this series along with Lot in Sodom which was on that collection. Nonetheless, I'm glad it's here. The collection also contains some European work that is good to have (especially the film by Dimitri Kirsanov). I'm not a big fan of the long Isou film (Venon and Eternity) but I'm sure there will be those who can argue why it is important, especially to the development of a certain anarchic strain in European avant-garde (both film and theory). I'll view it again in the hopes that I can see its importance.
All in all, this collection will give you a real glimpse into the avant-garde film of the era and is a must have for anyone interested in experimental cinema. The absence of Maya Deren's films is noteworthy but should not dissuade anyone from purchasing what is clearly a major release. (Deren's films are contained in another collection available on DVD.)

This second installment of avant-garde film is surely a keeper. It features works by Marie Menken, Sidney Petereson/James Broughton, Stan Brakhage, and interestingly Isadore Isou's "Venom and Eternity"(with extra footage!) The collection spans from the late twenties to the fifties. And don't forget Brakage's "Way to the Shadow Garden," a magnificent film. This collection is a must for any film person, or anyone simply interested in film as art. What a treat! Spend some time with it, combine it with stuff, it's safer than drugs. OK, are you convinced yet?Avant-Garde 2: Experimental Cinema 1928-1954

chock full of "psycho drama" . this is again,full of shorts by avantgarde directors. although definately not for everyone if you have a love of these old black and white silent psycho drama films full of sometimes disturbing and always vague references this may be for you. they were strangly attractive to me and i keep going back trying to figure what in the world motivated the director of these shorts and never have much luck. these type of films had one last hurrah during andy warhol's reign and i consider him the last of the real psycho drama film directors.
as i said before these films are going to not appeal to all people but to those that like them this is a little gem of a collection.

Compared to Avant-Garde 1, these films are a little on the lackluster side. Somehow the American film makers kind of missed their mark as far as using motion pictures as an art form. While a few images kept my interest, there seemed to be long pauses in between shots. It seems that the man behind the camera was trying to capture something that wasn't really there.

It's good. But not as good as the first (Avant-Garde 1). In this 2 dvd box almost all films are from the US, what makes it poorer. Still is worth buying it, if you (like me) enjoy this crazy experimental stuff. But I would prefer it with more bizarre german and french ones.

If you are into avante garde cinematography to a large degree, then you may stay awake thru the first 15 minutes. Those of us looking to find something different, inspiration, or interesting, are asleep in two!

In 2 words: dull

Fahgedaboutit.