Educational Media Reviews Online

This DVD comprises five works by the Canadian filmmaker, Richard Kerr: collage d’hollywood, a 35mm film; hollywood decollage, a digital video; le bombardement la port des perles, a transfer to digital video, Demi-monde, a 35mm slide show, and A Family Thing, an audio collage; and eight text essays on the film maker’s work.

The films are interesting, often beautiful, along the lines of impressionism, with a strong sense of color and rhythm. Demi-monde is typical: cross fades of stained glass-like imagery, drawings, photos, eyes, saintly and demonic, angry/fearful men, and sensual women. The images taken from Hollywood films and trailers are more backdrop than clear political statement. On the other hand, they are effectively deployed in terms of visual incorporation with Kerr’s lines, scratches, fades, superimpositions, and painting on the frame. In fact, the techniques and materials used—beeswax, Fantastik, bleach and other substances (according to the supplemental documentation) –are quite stunning in their variety and effect. At the same time, each piece has an integrated, whole feel to it. Recommended, especially for film production classes.