Begone Dull Care (1949)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Directors:

Evelyn Lambart
Norman McLaren

Genre:

Animation | Short | Music

Plot:

Abstract images drawn directly onto the film are accompanied by three pieces of jazz performed by the Oscar Peterson trio.

Plot Keywords:

Experimental Film | Jazz | Drawn On Film | Abstract Film

Awards:

2 wins

Also Known As:

A Phantasy in Colors (USA) (DVD title)
Caprice en couleurs (Canada: French title)

Runtime:

8 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

None

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:G

Company:

National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

Trivia:

The technique used to create the images in the film is called camera-less animation. Images are painted directly on blank film stock or, in some instances, etched from the black emulsion of exposed film stock.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in McLaren on McLaren (1983)

I can respect all the time they put into this, though it sure isn't fun to watch

This is a very important Canadian animated short in that many love it for its artistic style as well as all the tedious work that went into making it. Classical music is set to movement of scratches on film. None of the animation is anthropomorphic--instead all shapes and colors and scratches. Because of this, the film looks like something that you'd see in a modern art museum. However, it should also be pointed out that this is a very, very, very difficult film to watch nor is it particularly fun. Watching minute after minute of this is just a chore.

Overall verdict: An interesting experiment that has little, if any, commercial appeal. Not particularly pleasant but I sure can respect the time that went into making it.