Lynne Sachs


     Professor Kase well prefaced the work of Lynne Sachs as a hybrid of formats. Charged by a sense of political consciousness, inquires of gender perspectives, among many others influences, Sachs experimental ‘movies’ utilize many forms of home-movie aesthetics, documentary footage, and a sheer playfulness with her physical alterations of the 16mm stock used in many of her films.

     In fact King 101 seems to be teeming these types of filmmaker. Just yesterday (Tuesday the 19th) another burgeoning filmmaker showcased his own hybrid film, Descent, which married documentary style footage with obscure avant-garde aesthetics. As such, our own Jake Hart is well on his way to continuing a tradition of experimental ‘film’-making, along with our speaker Lynne Sachs.

     In the films showcased on Wednesday evening we can already see the echoes of filmmakers studied as of recent. In Sachs’s The Task of the Translator there’s this voiceover to home-movie footage that’s oddly reminiscent of Jonas Mekas; though in this case the orator is Hungarian, versus Lithuanian. In addition, The XY Chromosome Project has moments where painted colors and lines trickle along the actual film stock, reminding us of the same practice used by Len Lye.  

     The final two films, both grounded by a home-movie aesthetic resonated with me the most. Both Same Stream Twice and The Women’s March (forgive my remiss memory as to this title) had this dual quality of endearment and melancholy. Both featured young girls as they continue to grow, physically and emotionally, in a world ever-more exciting, but even more so confusing.  

     Having had the pleasure of speaking with Lynne following her discussion, and enjoyed her shared thoughts on the language of experimental works, and how they have little to no preface. They are fresh with each new endeavor, like that of a painting. Her approach to filmmaking is unique too, as she allows meaning to arise out of actions, where the subconscious spills out into one’s work.

     All this said, I’m definitely looking forward to hearing her speak again in class!

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