Chabrol by Iuncker

Portraits by Steeve Iuncker

Henry Jaglom x 3 on DVD

Kathryn Harrold in Someone to Love

“This is a movie…isn’t it?”

“His work reflects the frightened child within, crying for love, affection and purity in a scary world drunk on rules, power and corruption.” A consideration of Henry Jaglom’s Tracks, Someone to Love and New Year’s Day, now on Flickhead.

Where’s Welles-O?

Hanging at the Cafè Greco in 1947. Can you spot Orson’s bean? Click to enlarge!

Surviving Picasso

Pablo Picasso in the studio with Brigitte Bardot, 1958 (click to enlarge)



L. Mirkine, Picasso and Ives Montand at Cannes, 1953 (click to enlarge)

Life imitating art imitating life

Exquisite Corpse: Surrealism and the Black Dahlia Murder A new book by Mark Nelson and Sarah Bayliss. Bridging the worlds of high art and true crime, Exquisite Corpse presents a unique perspective on the most notorious unsolved murder case of the twentieth century — the bizarre 1947 killing of Elizabeth Short, better known as the Black Dahlia murder.
    Unlike previous books on the Black Dahlia, Exquisite Corpse provides a detailed and compelling explanation for the unusual nature of this gruesome killing. It reveals, through visual comparisons and historical research, what seem to be profound connections between surrealist art and the Black Dahlia case, both before and after the murder. The evidence includes startling crime-scene and autopsy photographs of Elizabeth Short, rarely seen photographs by Man Ray, and surprising comparisons with a wide range of surrealist artworks. A ‘web of connections’ indicates a direct link or one degree of separation between the alleged killer and a host of influential people in the arts and film industry in Los Angeles in the 1930s and 40s. A timeline provides a revealing chronology of events surrounding the murder. Available from Amazon

Kinda fonda Wanda

“Barbara Loden’s independent work succeeded… largely due to its total abjuration of dramatic convention. Wanda is a film that, from start to finish, is sunk deep in an unrelievedly dispiriting everyday reality.” Tom Sutpen reviews an independent classic from 1971 that's new on DVD — read it on Flickhead!

From the vaults of DEFA

Wolfgang Staudte’s Rotation (1949) is the story of a German family that becomes divided over supporting Hitler and the Nazis. The father considers joining the Nazi party purely to improve his finances. But when he helps a friend print resistance leaflets, his son, a Hitler Youth member, betrays him. After the war father and son meet again.
    Another Wolfgang Staudte (The Murderers Are Among Us) classic, Rotation was censored by the Soviets because of its pacifist message and because it included footage from Leni Riefenstahl’s Olympia. It was awarded the Golden Leopard at the 1954 Locarno Film Festival. The new DVD from First Run Features includes an interview with film historian Christiane Mückenberger, newsreels, and the essay, “1945-65: The Cold War – The Film in Historical Context.” Order from Amazon

Based on testimony from the Nuremberg Trial of chemical giant I.G. Farben and on the 1947 book I.G. Farben by American author Richard Sasuly, Council of the Gods (1950) is the story of the collaboration between international corporations and Nazi scientists whose research contributed to the death of millions.
    The film focuses on chemist Dr. Hans Scholz, who becomes wrapped up in his political neutrality and closes his eyes to the fact that poison is being produced in his factory – poison to be used in the Nazi gas chambers. Standing before the judges at the Nuremberg Trials he must face the fact that he is partly responsible for the deaths of millions in the Nazi concentration camps.
    Featuring the electronic sounds of Oskar Sala (Hitchcock’s The Birds), the film is powerful in its depiction of the moral dilemmas of the war, as well as of Cold War propaganda. DVD extras include interviews with director Kurt Maetzig and set designer Willy Schiller. Order from Amazon

Assorted linx

Stéphane Audran, La Femme infidèle

Sean Donnola is a photographer who has made two beautiful short films, A Dream and Napoli, on view at MySpace.

As I champ at the bit (or chomp at the bait) for the upcoming Performance DVD, there’s an exhibit of Cammell/Roeg photography at the Drkrm. Gallery in LA.


Carole and Ángela, now @ SLIFR (click to enlarge)

Gear up for midterms: a 31-question pop quiz at Sergio Leone & the Infield Fly Rule. No cheating!

Tim Lucas suffers blogger burnout at Video Watchblog.

James Bama: American Realist

“Known today as a fine artist working primarily in American Western art, James Bama was once part of a group of anonymous but fiercely talented illustrators who helped to shape the look and direction of 20th century pop culture.” A review of the new book, James Bama: American Realist, now on Flickhead.