A monkey paces inside a cage: visually, the short film confines itself to this stark simplicity, yet its message resonates deeply. It draws on whispered excerpts from Goffman’s seminal Asylums on total institutions, paired with a poignant citation from Poe. In the spirit of post-'68 thought, closed and segregated spaces take center stage in the social and cultural discourse, and this film embodies that reflection with radical intensity.
SONG 1: Portrait of a lady (the Songs are a cycle of silent color 8mm films by the American experimental filmmaker Stan Brakhage produced from 1964 to 1969).
Presenting a woman, a female statue, a breathing tree, and a fish out of water, an unorthodox love story unfolds with the growth of limbs and expressive gestures.
The documentary examines Frank Zappa and his music through archive footage, including unique video excerpts from Austrian television archives featuring interviews with Zappa and backstage scenes from the 1970s and 1980s.
Follows contemporary American poet James Dickey on a three week lecture tour. Reveals the actual thoughts and feelings of the poet through his conversations and poetry readings.
The simple story has the pair coming to the rescue of peace-loving Mormons when land-hungry Major Harriman sends his bullies to harass them into giving up their fertile valley.
"Canada's convention-shattering voice of poetry" (Globe and Mail). Michael Ondaatje documents the work and spirit of fellow poet bpNichol (1944-1988) Capturing the artist / writer / sound performer in "fantasy documentary", Ondaatje uncovers what made bpNichol an influence to a generation of North American and European writers.
