Instead of Yo La Tengo (cf previous post), I attended a projection of "La Planète Sauvage", by Topor and Laloux, music of Goraguer, at Flicker. On a planet far, far away populated by giant blue humanoids, the Draags, humans are pe(s)ts, but adapt and overcome their condition. Harmony ensues.
Words are lacking, as the charm of the movie relies mostly in its drawings and its soundtrack, more than in its dialogs (some neologism-filled techno-babble, that indeed sets the atmosphere but is painful to listen to). Knowledge sets you free, and acceptance is the only way to survival. The violent universe is beautifully depicted by Topor's illustrations, and combined to the soundtrack makes for a very touching psychedelic experience. The kids loved it.
The movie was followed by another short of Topor and Laloux, "les Escargots" (1965). A farmer realizes that tears are the only way to make his salads grow. After using tricks such as onions, meaningful poetry and torture devices, he does succeed in growing the larger salads of the region. An infestation of snails destroys his harvest, and the near-by town as a bonus. It would be difficult to imagine a more acid yet engaging critic of the dangerous side effects of unbridled capitalism. The sexual innuendo of the snails eyes is particularly endearing.
A few artists performed after the projections: Dan Hole Pond and his live-programmed loops on tiny keyboard and tapes, not so unreminiscent of Boards of Canada, and Jason Ajemian's "Playing You to Sleep" from Chicago, on straight bass. Quite impressive both of them, quite suiting to the evening, but Sofie and Jude are calling me back...
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