Neighbors by Norman Mclaren (1952) (8m 8s) (Canada)
Neighbors is an anti-war film by Scottish-Canadian filmmaker Norman Mclaren. The film revolves around two neighbors, who are enjoying a nice day outside. At first, It seems as if they have a good friendly relationship as they sit outside and enjoy the nature. However, that quickly changes as they discover a flower growing in the middle of their properties and they come to blows with one another over the possession of the flower. They destroy each other’s houses and kill each other’s family. It is an exemplary film which shows how borders and walls are created. The film utilizes a mix between normal filmmaking and stop motion. This film shows the effects of war and how cruel it can be, houses…show more content… The film is a combination of found and made footage to produce an uneasy, seductive montage, anchored on the drone's private thoughts. Barber brings together war, love, life, death. The film follows the point of view of the drone as it flies over cityscapes, encountering individuals, reports, and in flight becomes aware of its own utility and destiny. The drone flies over areas such as Pakistan and Yemen, but also to New York and a suburb in London. The drone also takes its audience on a journey through time, projecting images of the past and possible…show more content… The films in this block will be longer in duration and much darker than the ones in the first block. The films in this block include:
23rd Psalm Branch by Stan Brakhage (1967) (10m00s) (United States)
As the atrocities committed during the Vietnam war entered the global conscious Stan Brakhage’s 23rd Psalm Branch captures the true essence of war and its horror. It’s a feature length film but if I get a chance to show the first 10 minutes of the film I feel it would be able to deliver its message across. The opening scene shows dead bodies laying on top of one another, bodies lay lifeless on the ground just like the bugs you find in a tray of a bug zapper. There are images - taken from ground and aerial - of explosions, destruction, catastrophes and disasters.
