The Architects (Die Architekten)

Whenever the International Film Festival comes to town, I look forward to a copy of the upcoming schedule. Filled with interesting shots and plots, it takes a while to consume/sample and eventually cut out the memorable snippets.
Sadly it has missed Hamilton this year due to the lack of a suitable venue,so I turn my focus to the local film club.

As soon as I read 'The Architects' was filmed just before the collapse of East Germany, I circled the screening date. The subtitled film follows an idealistic architect eventually crushed by standardisation and streamlining in the communist era.
There were plenty of shots panning over the city and the multiple tower apartment blocks.

'The Architects' are a group of idealistic architects, friends from school designing a proposed community centre of dwellings,shops,restaurants,cinemas and activity areas.
Their schemes were definitely statements. Statements that were nit-picked till they were broken by officials.

Can't remember the last time I saw an architectural movie- I liked all the juxtapositions of life inside and outside buildings. One particular scene was a commuter train rushing by the windows of a one room stark apartment.

One more movie to see on the three ticket pass..we've chosen an oldie 'Gaslight'.

Mala Noche

We were in a flurry last Tuesday. Takeaways, tap class and then a movie.
The local film club were showing Gus Van Sant's 'Mala Noche'.
Each year, we buy a three pass ticket and randomly choose three films from the entire year's programme.

Shot in black and white, 'Mala Noche'-translated as Bad Night follows Walt, a liquor store attendant and his unrequited love for a Mexican hustler.
Set near Skid Row in Portland, we follow these characters in battered cars, old apartments, immigrant boarding houses and the grimy streets.

The dialogue was sparse and a mixture of Spanish and English. Scenes focused on expressions and the sudden movement of the characters as they ran up stairs, drove cars and sat contemplating.

I started to focus on the framing of the shots and position of items in scenes during the slow periods. Suddenly there would be an explosion of action on scene bringing you back to the plot. Especially liked the hand-written credits over the main actors playing up to the camera.

Looking forward to our next chosen movie, 'The Architects'.

disposable camera

Remember when 'Staple Magazine' hit the streets in the early 2000s?

As with all new magazines, it had a fresh look and its bill stickers were all over the city when first released, only to fade into the background within a year.

Each month the back page featured the developed film of a disposable camera that had been given to some up-and-comer or famous NZ face.
Over 24 shots, the person took photos of friends or places, even swimming underwater with the camera.

I've never really been a fan of disposable cameras but they serve their purpose, when a digital camera isn't around. There is something final about film, without the handy erase button.

After leaving my camera at home, I bought a disposable before I left Napier for Wellington.
Lack of zoom, its obvious boxy shape and manual winder reinforced its status as a mode of convenience.
The environmental aspect of their disposable status is rather disturbing, but its a novelty I rarely repeat.

Capturing images along the journey, I went photo-crazy in Wellington. I think it helped that the shops were closed and less people were on the streets.

I was glad to be able to snap a golden sunset or an building without over-examining the photo, it seemed more about the moment rather than the camera for once.

I'm looking forward to finishing off the film and getting them developed. I haven't got a clue what to expect.