Joanna Woodward (that Joanna, not Paul Newman's wife) directs her then-boyfriend Peter Murphy, lead singer of Bauhaus, in this grainy black & white short that is packed by a dissident, eerie Murphy-composed soundtrack. Murphy looks silly in pointed Spock-Ears, but jerks around the frame with the androgenous grace that made him famous. The film is basically plotless beyond average human comprehension-- Murphy is some kind of an elven demigod who lurches around an ampitheatre, comes across small rectangular object that looks like a wrapped-up ice tray. When he pulls off the cover the film turns into a visually crude but fascinating work of Claymation as odd creatures morph, multiply and interact. Murphy returns for one final, simple but very memorable shot. I didn't entirely know what to make of this film, but it was short enough to keep my interest and remember the gist of it after I saw it a year ago. I also wish Woodward had/will pursue a film career, because she did in fact have a budding vision resembling a potential genius.
2 Reviews
the back projection at Bauhaus gigs from the eighties
trashgang3 February 2015
I came across this short movie just a few hours ago by stupid incident. Searching for clips from the Gothic band Bauhaus I found, finally, this flick that was used during their tours back in the early eighties. Why it do pops up nowadays is the fact that Peter Murphy, lead vocals from Bauhaus, is in it and sold the movie at his 2000 tour.
It was shot in 1980 by Joanna Woodward, his lover back then. The only 'actor' in it was Peter himself. The band was influenced by the Bauhaus movement from 1919 and the early German flicks especially Das Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari (1920) which shows in the way he is dressed here and moves. You even could see the influence on the sleeve of Bela Lugosi's Dead which shows a fragment of the hard to find The Sorrows Of Satan (1926) again with the movements done by Peter. His face is clearly based on Nosferatu (1922).
The story itself do has a creepy atmosphere and remember that it was shot back in 1980 with a basic super 8 camera. The score used was done live by Joanna herself. You can easily hear the clicks while pushing buttons. Once Ptere is confronted with the grid we move over to clay animation. The only thing that isn't original is the closing music used. Nowadays you can hear Peter Murphy with Subhanallah, normally it should be Kate Bush with Lion Heart but Joanna didn't had any problem with both endings.
If you are into German silent movies pick this up, if you ever have seen back projection at an eighties gig from Bauhaus, pick this up. If you do love the performances of Peter go watch it. A must see for all Bauhaus geeks.
Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 2/5 Story 2/5 Comedy 0/5
It was shot in 1980 by Joanna Woodward, his lover back then. The only 'actor' in it was Peter himself. The band was influenced by the Bauhaus movement from 1919 and the early German flicks especially Das Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari (1920) which shows in the way he is dressed here and moves. You even could see the influence on the sleeve of Bela Lugosi's Dead which shows a fragment of the hard to find The Sorrows Of Satan (1926) again with the movements done by Peter. His face is clearly based on Nosferatu (1922).
The story itself do has a creepy atmosphere and remember that it was shot back in 1980 with a basic super 8 camera. The score used was done live by Joanna herself. You can easily hear the clicks while pushing buttons. Once Ptere is confronted with the grid we move over to clay animation. The only thing that isn't original is the closing music used. Nowadays you can hear Peter Murphy with Subhanallah, normally it should be Kate Bush with Lion Heart but Joanna didn't had any problem with both endings.
If you are into German silent movies pick this up, if you ever have seen back projection at an eighties gig from Bauhaus, pick this up. If you do love the performances of Peter go watch it. A must see for all Bauhaus geeks.
Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 2/5 Story 2/5 Comedy 0/5
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