Actually, the art-celeb-spotting aspect of Jonas Mekas’ Walden is maybe the least of its many magical qualities. But it ain’t exactly negligible, either. Get this movie, man.
Hello, Tony. Hello, kitty. Hello, Stan. Hello, Carl Th. Hello, Barbet. Hello, Lou, Edie, and John. Hello, Amy.
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Just Netflixed it. My knowledge of “avant-garde” is very greatest hits- Deren, Brakhage, Anger, early Bunuel, etc. Mekas is a name I’ve been encountering in books and articles for years without experiencing any of his work. I appreciate the reminder that there’s so much to explore.
Off topic- I thought you should know that the novel “Push”, which I’m given to understand is by Saphire, has been reissued to coincide with the film. The new edition is titled “Precious, based on the novel Push by Saphire”. The jacket of said volume notes that it includes the novel “Push”. I thought perhaps it also included the screenplay or a film diary. Nope- just the novel. “Push”, that is. My head hurts.
If I’m not mistaken this film or or some form of it is accessible for free via ubuweb.
One thing that struck me is how Tony Conrad looked like he could have been in The Feelies, ten years before The Feelies existed. Truly a man ahead of his time.
A great film from a great filmmaker. I’d completely forgotten that Mekas put out this DVD earlier this year; you’ve reminded me just in time for it to hit my Christmas wish list, Glenn. Thanks!
Now if only we could get a Blu-ray or DVD edition of “As I Was Moving Ahead…” or “Lost, Lost, Lost.”
As an aside, just watched “Lithuania and the Collapse of the USSR” at MoMA this week; for a 5‑hour movie shot with handheld Sony Handycam off of a TV of marginal quality in 1990, it’s ridiculously engrossing. Hell, regardless of how it was shot, it’s ridiculously engrossing. Well worth seeing. (For anyone in NY, there’s another MoMA screening on Sunday).
Amy was a babe.