David Lawson / The Sound of Transition
‘we are witnessing earthquakes and tsunamis…through a prism’
transition
/tranˈzɪʃ(ə)n,trɑːnˈzɪʃ(ə)n,tranˈsɪʃ(ə)n,trɑːnˈsɪʃ(ə)n/
verb
undergo or cause to undergo a process or period of transition.
Work - Dresden Dynamo Director - Lis Rhodes
“A cornerstone abstract film about musical composition”
We are in a huge period of upheaval, with political, social and economic tectonic plates shifting violently and at times subliminally. It is as though we are witnessing earthquakes and tsunamis happening at the same time through a prism as they are about to come crashing down on us, and this moment is throwing many of our global social inequalities and farces into sharp relief for all to contemplate and reflect upon.
We are in transition and whether we like it or not we’ve reached a new watershed moment, being forced to ask ourselves ‘are things going to change, are we going to make our planet a more fair and equal place for all to live on’?
Below are just a selection of the films that discovered me and drew me into their transformative spheres, texts that have compelled me to explore more about our shared pasts and our unknown futures. They are works that I have revelled in, their pictures, layered scores and soundtracks, giving me a more informed understanding of the work I need to do being involved in a collective film practice.
I hope that they will all make some transformative impression on you, and that these films will help us all through these new times.
Work - Nostalgia for the Light Director - Patricio Guzman
“A beautiful poetic foray into Chile’s turbulent history throughout the lens of the songs of the stars.”
Work - Silences of the Palace
Director - Moufida Tlatli
“A lyrical and compelling film of a young woman’s coming of age during the Tunisian war for independendence of the 1960’s. A sonically lyrical and compelling tour de force made by an indigenous woman director.”
Work - Chungking Express
Director - Wong Kar Wai
“A master of Asian cinema makes his home town, Hong Kong, the centre of a neo-noir set of stories on love , loneliness, and chance; told through recycled mise en scenes, and an outta sight soundtrack and editing for 90’s world cinema . ”
Work - Rocco e i suoi fratelli/Rocco and His Brothers Director - Luchino Visconti
“Visconti’s neo-realistic film of a family fighting its way out of austerity from the countryside to the town and back again. A landmark text with one of the most beautiful structures of any linear narrative film and a European jazz score.”
Work - The Colour of Pomegranates
Director - Sergei Parajanov
“In a 1960 republic of the Soviet Union, the gay Armenian director, Sergei Parajanov creates a set of cantiques, dreams and tableauxs about an 18th century artist struggle in life.”
Work - জলসাঘর/Jalsāghar/The Music Room
Director - Satyajit Ray
“Indian Epic on the ghosts of empire and the sound of decay. Film critic Derek Malcolm called the Music Room Ray’s most perfect film.”
Work - Touki Bouki Director - Djibril Mambéty Diop
“The first great African experimental film on migration and decolonisation made by one of the continent’s masters of cinema, Djibril Mambéty Diop. A (pre punk rock) film about young urban Africa with the energy of the Pistols. This is a must see film.”
Work - Last Year at Marienbad
Director - Alain Resnais
“French New wave director Alain Resnais, refusal of traditional plot and point of view, told through a hunting soundtrack and voice over gloriously filmed in Black and White.”
Work - Andrei Rublev
Director - Andrei Tarkovsky
“If you only have to see one Andrei Tarkovsky film ever , his Russian history opus on the life of revered religious icon painter Andrei Rublev is the one to listen to!”
Work - Killer of Sheep Director - Charles Burnett
“Before the American Black Indies of the 80’s, there was a whole new wave of the late 70’s, super committed and formally interesting, with their own sound tracks to Black American lives. Stories and lifestyles that resonate today.”
