Decasia - The State Of Decay
2002
In a society constantly looking for permanence in all things, examining the deterioration of an object or life often produces a sense of horror or dread. But sometimes such an examination reveals that beauty and purpose exist even in a state of decay. In his ethereal experimental film, Bill Morrison uses rotting nitrate .. Read more
| Starring | William S. Hart |
|---|---|
| Director | Bill Morrison |
| Genres | Documentary |
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Decasia - The State Of Decay
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In a society constantly looking for permanence in all things, examining the deterioration of an object or life often produces a sense of horror or dread. But sometimes such an examination reveals that beauty and purpose exist even in a state of decay. In his ethereal experimental film, Bill Morrison uses rotting nitrate archival film footage (a highly unstable medium, replaced in the 1950s) to create a haunting, swirling contemplation on both the physical and filmic states. A powerful score by Bang On A Can co-founder Michael Gordon (for which DECASIA originally was commissioned to accompany) works in tandem to provoke emotion and meaning.
| Starring | William S. Hart |
|---|---|
| Director | Bill Morrison |
| Studio | BFI VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 6 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Documentary |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: not available Production year: 2002 |
| Format | DVD |
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Most helpful member's review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Decaying Beauty
An extraordinarily beautiful film using found footage. It presents images that decay before your very eyes, mirrored by a slow moving soundtrack that captures the desiccated mood and atmosphere.
Something beautiful from something very banal. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Beautiful and haunting but fails to involve
The idea of beauty in decaying nitrate film stock is not new, I remember an art competition based on some frames from a decomposing film.
However a feature length movie is quite different. Bill Morrison’s choice of frames is excellent, some are incredibly beautiful and others provide mysterious glimpses of people acting like wisps of memories slowly dredged up from ones past. There are several themes running through the film, one seems Indian, one of a disaster with men rescuing each other, another weaving, all of which help maintain interest as one thinks of plots to the disconnected damaged pictures.
There is a sound track made up of a continuous thrumming sound (possibly representing the sound of movie projector) above which is a much higher synthesised theme reminiscent of a dirge, but continuously changing.
However interesting the experience I constantly found my attention drifting, thinking that bit would make a nice screensaver, that a good framed print, and that a contender for world’s most difficult jigsaw, raising the question is this really material for a feature length film? -
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Decasia - The State Of Decay
In a society constantly looking for permanence in all things, examining the deterioration of an object or life often produces a sense of horror or dread. But sometimes such an examination reveals that beauty and purpose exist even in a state of decay. In his ethereal experimental film, Bill ...
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