dir. Ashlinn de Schonen
A video which leaves a long wake after viewing.
A puzzle for the viewer without a clear solution or meaning, therefore a sort of thinking machine, but not in a dry, structural way - instead the video is wittily aware of its own puzzling aspect, which becomes fun and playful, like dressing up or being read a story. However this takes place in a productive fashion that might allow the viewer to work through ideas (perhaps this is always part of dressing up and being read stories).
This productive aspect is produced by the varied mix of elements that make up the video, which is small-c catholic, including costumes, music, choreography, and lots of locations. Sumptuous and rich, yet democratic, again because nothing is made obvious or condescending to the viewer (a generosity).
The video suggests ideas about being introduced into knowledge structures (like the alphabet) and structures of movement through space (both are linked) - in childhood these have a freedom and uncertainty (rather like the film itself), until suddenly the grid of an alphabet teaching diagram becomes the windows of tall buildings in the city, where running around becomes policed and prohibited.
Therefore a decision in the video to work in public space, the place of emancipation. Here the costumes and fantasies of childhood, an enormous horse, rollerblade through the empty financial places. This recalls street-set musicals, for instance the films of Jacques Demy, or the performances in Derek Jarman films, like the ballet by the fire in JUBILEE (1978). A thought in the wake, why don’t we all go out and dance too, transform the space around us, is the cumulative effect.
