Beyond Zero: 1914 – 1918 2014
Distributed by Icarus Films, 32 Court St., 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-876-1710
Produced by Bill Morrison
Directed by Bill Morrison
DVD , color, 40 min.
High School - General Adult
Experimental Film, World War I
Date Entered: 10/16/2015
Reviewed by Jeffrey Pearson, University of Michigan Ann ArborAnyone who has seen Bill Morrison's Desasia (2002) is familiar with his use of nitrate film in various stages of decay and chemical decomposition to fascinating effect. Here the filmmaker inspires added layers of meaning with his choice of nitrate footage shot during World War I. A mix of staged maneuvers and actual battle footage, we see soldiers in fields and trenches, in tanks and airplanes, all pulled, warped, exploded and obscured by the distortions of the nitrate film decay. Whether the viewer attempts to "see through" the artifacts to focus only on the original footage, or to examine the ghostly and fitful shapes of the distortions alone, or to be carried along by the totality of the meld, a mesmerizing tension and import is added to the scenes. The urgent, dissonant soundtrack composed by Aleksandra Vrebalov and performed by the Kronos Quartet is by turns mournful and shrill, and is essential to the film’s message on the horrors of war.
This film is highly recommended for public and academic libraries and is ideal for courses on film study, motion picture soundtracks, and the history of war.