Screen Test [ST226]: Paul Morrissey

About This Movie

Screen Test featuring Paul Morrissey is quite the intriguing piece from '65. The atmosphere is stark, with this incredible use of lighting creating a stark contrast between the illuminated right side and the pitch-black left. Morrissey's performance is raw—his brow furrows deeper as the film rolls, each frame heightening the tension, and by the end, there's a poignant vulnerability as his eyes well up. It’s an exploration of emotion, isolation, and the human condition wrapped in a minimalist setting. This experimental film lacks the conventional narrative structure, relying instead on the power of expression. It’s distinct for its unyielding focus on a single subject, making it a fascinating study for collectors interested in early avant-garde cinema.

Screen Test is somewhat elusive in the collector world, often overshadowed by Morrissey's more well-known works. Its scarcity is due to limited releases and its experimental nature, which may not appeal to all collectors. Still, for those with an eye for the unusual and a penchant for avant-garde film, this piece offers a unique snapshot of the period and serves as an interesting contrast to more traditional narratives.