BRING HOME THE MOTHERLODE, BARRY

 

Beyond The Black Rainbow, d. Panos Cosmatos (2010)

In 1983, a young mute woman with uncanny abilities is held prisoner within the sterile and dehumanising Arboria Institute. Her captor is Dr Barry Nile, a sinister, wig wearing pseudo-scientist. He becomes increasingly obsessed with her and, when she escapes, he loses his mind completely during the pursuit.

The first film of a major new talent, this may lack the preposterous imagination and violent energy of Mandy (perhaps my favourite film of the 21st century - so far), but it is an important introduction to the strange new / old world of director / writer Panos Cosmatos: a place where time and space are malleable (Black Rainbow is set in 1983, but it could be 1969 or 2001 or 2120); a place where hallucinogenic drugs are mandatory even though they are not necessary; a place where science fiction and horror and fantasy gleefully collide into each other, and cosmic sparks fly on impact. 

I absolutely love this guy, so much so that I'm not even frustrated by the paucity of his output (just two films and a 56 minute TV episode in 15 years): the quality of his work is so extraordinarily high I'm just waiting to see what he does next.

FOLK COSTUMES OF THE WORLD

 

001: England / Ireland

A traditional Morris Dancer and a couple dressed for Irish dancing.

From Folk Costumes of the World (1978) by Robert Harrold. Illustration by Phyllida Legg.

TWEET

 

TENSE AMBIANCE

I was struck (unlike that dinky target) by this sequence in the 2011 Japanese film Schoolgirl Apocalypse, particularly the subtitles. Despite what you might reasonably suspect from a Japanese film about young women, there's nothing prurient about this film, in which awkward schoolgirl Sakura has her life turned upside down by murderous zombies (are there any other type?), then has to battle against them (and self-doubt) in order to survive. Naturally, her aim improves very quickly indeed.

FLAGS WORTH SHAGGING

Some of the incredible work of the Asafo, the warrior group of the Fante people of Ghana. Exploited by Europeans for centuries, the Fante noted their enslavers obsession with pageantry and mixed it with their own history and traditions to create these amazing, often satirical and defiant banners, many of which are still in use today. 

OBSCURE OBJECTS OF DESIRE

Everything about this 1983 First Day Cover from the German Democratic Republic pleases me. The colours are lovely, particularly for a totalitarian state. Part of my enormous collection of things that have no purpose at all but are absolutely essential. 

EVERYDAY ELECTRONICS

 

016: White Noise Generator