Film Exercise Number One

About This Movie

So, there's this little gem called Film Exercise Number One from 1962, and it's something else. The film dives deep into the aesthetic realm of the Watts Towers, layering up to four different colored images that almost dance around each other. It’s like a visual poem, where the colors and forms create a rhythm that's sometimes soothing but can just as easily throw you off-balance. The pacing is deliberately slow, allowing you to really soak in the details, and the way it plays with superimposition gives it a distinct vibe. There’s something meditative but also disorienting about it, making you question how we perceive structure and art itself.

Film Exercise Number One is somewhat of a rarity among collectors, not just for its artistic merit but also due to its elusive director and the ambiguity surrounding its production. Various formats have surfaced over the years, but finding a well-preserved version can be a challenge, adding to its allure. The film has garnered niche interest, especially among those who appreciate experimental cinema, as its unique approach to imagery and color makes it stand out in the landscape of the early 60s art films.