Number 20: Fragments of a Faith Forgotten

About This Movie

So, Number 20: Fragments of a Faith Forgotten, it's a curious piece, really. When Harry Smith took his previous works related to The Wizard of Oz and stitched them together, he created something that dances between the realms of nostalgia and surrealism. The film has this ethereal quality, almost dreamlike, that pulls you in, and the pacing feels like a gentle unraveling of memories more than a straightforward narrative. You'll notice the practical effects have a certain charm, a kind of grassroots creativity that just captivates, even if it's rough around the edges. It’s this blend of themes around lost faith and the search for meaning—definitely something to ponder after the credits roll.

This film is quite elusive, as it premiered only once at a fundraising event that never saw a proper release. The scarcity of any physical media has made it a topic of intrigue among collectors, especially those interested in avant-garde cinema. There are whispers of a few existing copies, but finding them is like hunting for a needle in a haystack, which only adds to the allure for dedicated film enthusiasts.