Kinofest Special: Experimental Films from Germany and the Philippines
The essay film shows in a kind of stream of thoughts the most different things and concepts, both abstract and concrete, in the typical style of Alexander Kluge. He shows elephants during the evacuation of a Russian circus in 1941, electric light, Trump at the G20 summit and brutal street fights among gangs of children in the northern slums of Manila.
Philippines, Germany | 2018
Director: Khavn & Alexander Kluge
Genre: Circus, Cacophony
German, English, & Filipino with English Subtitles
Duration: 90 mins
Rating: R16
Montréal Festival of New Cinema 2019: Nomination, Prix de l'expérimentation
HAPPY LAMENTO (2018) Venice International Film Festival
"Happy Lamento" is my first cinematic collaboration with Alexander Kluge, three-time Golden Lion winner and recipient of the George Büchner Prize, German’s highest literary award. This project delves into contrasting themes such as electricity, revolution, early cinema, and the gritty streets of dystopic Manila. Through a blend of absurd and sarcastic blend of bizarre TV clips, snapshots of Merkel and Trump at the G20 summit, we construct a thought-provoking tapestry. Get ready to be surprised! Expect the unexpected!
Breaking free from conventional narrative, the film bear-hugs a collage of ideas, themes, and visuals, sucking viewers into an engaging dialogue. It's a journey where we happily lament various conditions, from the mundane to the profound.
While the film's unconventional structure challenges your senses, it uncovers explorations of our complex world, from blue moon musings to the circus symbolizing chaos. "Happy Lamento" encourages active participation in its associative narrative, offering a demanding yet rewarding experience, an opportunity to contemplate and celebrate our complaints about the world.
Ultimately, this film stands as a testament to cinema's enduring spirit of experimentation, celebrating unexpected connections forged when two galaxies collide.
