Frieze: An Underground Film

About This Movie

So, Frieze: An Underground Film is this oddly fascinating piece from 1973 that kind of pokes fun at the whole experimental scene of the time. You’ve got Miller on screen, critiquing the very film you're watching, which gives it this layered, self-aware vibe. The voiceover from Kennedy, claiming it’s a meditation on ‘hot and cold,’ sort of adds to the absurdity, doesn’t it? The tone is quite loose and irreverent, and the pacing feels like it meanders, which actually fits with the underground aesthetic of that era. What really makes it stand out is how it navigates the line between critique and creation, almost like an inside joke for those who know the struggles of indie filmmaking. It’s raw and unrefined, which is part of its charm.

Frieze has a certain rarity, especially among the small circle of Australian underground films from the 1970s. It's been released in a couple of formats, but you’ll find the earlier copies are quite scarce. Collectors tend to appreciate the film for its unconventional approach and the insight it offers into the experimental film community of its time, making it a curious piece for those looking into the history of indie cinema.