ODDSAC
Swiss Dots
54 min., dir. by Danny Perez
One has to have affection for a film that doesn’t overstay its welcome. This is especially dangerous turf in the realm of experimental film. So challenging is the medium that each person will hold their own time limit. If ODDSAC can be applauded for anything, it is that it exits before you expect, wrapping up as quickly as possible, only giving what is absolutely necessary. It’s perfectly contained, a “visual album” lasting little more than 50 minutes. For those minutes, though, the journey is intense and engrossing — if you are willing to surrender to the screen, it will arrest your eyes and ears.
But does the film amount to anything? It’s hard to say. Experimental film is built to be sort of inaccessible. It has no desire to cater to an audience; instead, images will flash and sounds will be made, and you will make of it what you will. There were moments of stirringly wonderful imagery. As we drift through the bizarre dreamscape, there is semblance of a narrative, but it is so abstract I wasn’t sure what to make of it. Was there linear progression? Does it even matter?
Perhaps the best compliment to a work like this is it stirred up all these thoughts; I wanted to understand, and I wanted to revisit the film — and I plan to once it is made available. And I have to commend Animal Collective for giving voice to this type of film. It feels sometimes that real “experimental” is a dying art, especially when it comes to being at all financially viable. It’s nice to see a large band (for the independent scene) get behind a project like this. And not just get behind it — they were crucial in its development. It gives me hope that, as Animal Collective lives up to the “collective” aspect of their name, they continue along this line: becoming a true artistic establishment. However, as I wandered the bars of New York post-screening, I conducted my own inebriated man-on-the-street interviews. I became obvious to me of how, outside of their scene, Animal Collective is pretty much unknown. It’s a shame, both for what they accomplish musically, but also for projects like this.
Is ODDSAC an amazing experimental film? Not by any stretch. But it’s capable and interesting. It doesn’t achieve the stirring height of something by Stan Brakhage, but it is also more accessible. It almost feels pointless to review a film like ODDSAC — you know if this is something for you. Do you like Animal Collective? Then look into this movie. Their music is wonderful and the images are fitting. Are you a fan of experimental film? See this movie. It is a wonderful example of how the genre can enter the playing film. If neither aspect sounds appealing to you, then there is no way you will like this film. Nothing about it is made to convince you. It stands strong as what it is, and like the best of the independent world you can like it, or you can move on.
