The White Room (1989)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Bill Butt

Writers:

Bill Butt (writer)
Jimi Cauty (writer)

Plot:

The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu, King Boy D and Rockman Rock, try to find and gain access to the mystical White Room...

Plot Keywords:

Color In Title | Road | Independent Film

Cast

Bill Drummond	...	Kingboy D
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jimi Cauty	...	Rockman Rock
David Franks	...	Himself

Runtime:

47 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

KLF Communications

Trivia:

Apart from spoken-word pieces in the background music, there is no dialogue heard in this film. The few brief moments of portrayed human speech are muffled.

...yet waste, but soon the cultural root of tomorrow!

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

What is the KLF about? What is the White Room? Does it matter? Yes it does...

Popculture has its boundaries, and we are bound to them. Today we praise "The Who" for destroying guitars on acid after their concerts because it wasn't a common thing to do. The most remarking statements were mostly made by Rock heroes or Pop poets. In the United States everything coming out of a synthesizer is almost automatically Techno. And Techno became a synonym for missing creativity, stupidity, drugs and lacking consciousness. But hold it, there are some fragments in this Genre which have probably gone beyond any border known to us pop-culture consumers.

The KLF can be described as "sophisticated mindlessnes", people who exactly know what they are doing but yet leaving you (the listener/perceiver) with hardly any clue at all. "The White Room" is a milestone in this very relieving way of art. It underlines a very serious attitude of The KLF against consumption and pop-fascism. This movie can be interpreted in a lot of ways, but most importantly it doesn't try to suggest anything. Bill Drummond and Jimi Cauty start their quest for the White Room and this film describes their journey to it. No word is spoken, no line can be read, only estranging visual metaphors mixed with an electronic trance score that only has one thing: continuity! If you are a "Steven-Spielberg-storyline"-loving person that expects the point to be served on a silver tablet I really dissuade from watching this movie. It will only be a let-down. But if you are ready to experience a smooth kick for your conscience, freedom of thought and art in its entirety of modern school this might a film to go with. The way is the goal... It's up to you to interpret it but remember, it has never been (officially) finished, maybe that's up to you or your mind!