Event

FILM / NOTFILM

FILM April 8 April 14 DIR. Alan Schnieder, written by Samuel Beckett, Starring Buster Keaton, Not Rated, USA, almost silent, 1965, 22 min

An almost forgotten footnote in film history, just restored to pristine 4k, FILM, a 22 min collaboration between 2 of the 20th centurys comic geniuses explores the essence of perception. Are all movies a chase scene between eye and object. Is to be to be perceived as George Berkeley famously argued. Becketts visual essay pares it all down to the bare minimum. And then there is Buster Keaton baffled and perplexed in Becketts universe yet still the greatest physical comedian of all time.
You may be puzzled, bored or even repelled but you should not miss this unique confluence of genius.

a cinematic conundrum that asks more questions than it answers. Ross Lipman

NOTFILM April 8 April 14 dir. Ross Lipman, Not Rated,USA, non stop talking, English, 2016, 122 min.

NOTFILM is a film-essay representing an attempt to grasp the insuppressible greatness of Film by Samuel Beckett, bringing to light extraordinary audio recordings, outtakes, photos, notes and letters. Its a film on the making of Film, but also an excavation into cinema archaeology and a reflection upon fleeting and undying memory.
Interviews with Barney Rosset, Haskell Wexler, Billie Whitelaw, Kevin Brownlow, Leonard Maltin and critics, historians and friends of the principals place FILM in a philosophical /artistic / historical context.

This project was made possible by 335 backers on Kickstarter including the Stonzek Theatre.