The "Pan" films, presumably not titled as such originally, was a series of nine different one-minute short films created by experimental filmmaker Hollis Frampton for his enormous thirty-six hour film cycle "Magellan". As such, they were never released as individual works or given title cards because of being an intended part of this greater context, and in the end never actually used due to the project being cut short by the filmmaker's death in 1984. Reportedly, Frampton had originally hoped to complete seven-hundred and twenty "Pan" films in all, although for whatever reason only nos. 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 697, 698, 699, and 700 are available now. One would think that because of the large gap in numbering there were more shot remaining unavailable; but due to a lack of evidence supporting this, the series is generally known as containing only nine.
"Pan 699" is what could be considered the penultimate short in the series (although it's possible Frampton completed all seven-hundred and twenty, which would make this only a later installment) and also, like "Pan 697", not really experimental but more a straightforward documentary snippet. Further comparison between both segments can be made due to yet another aspect which makes them similar: the scenes shot in both are undeniably cruel for most viewers because of what they depict. The earlier episode mentioned was more a downright gory depiction of animal slaughter and thus more effective in what it does; this one on the other hand is the type of film one might dismiss as being an exploitative or snuff movie that could offend many. It consists of a single shot of a young boy possibly eight or nine, dangling a frog from a fishhook and seemingly celebrating his catch. Not particularly disturbing like "Pan 697", but more cruel and insulting rather than making an impact, although as always it can't be judged out of its context. And admittedly, even despite how provoking it may seem, one can't deny that the single shot itself is colorful, effective and somewhat memorable due to the composition and the unusual scene it presents.
"Pan 699" is what could be considered the penultimate short in the series (although it's possible Frampton completed all seven-hundred and twenty, which would make this only a later installment) and also, like "Pan 697", not really experimental but more a straightforward documentary snippet. Further comparison between both segments can be made due to yet another aspect which makes them similar: the scenes shot in both are undeniably cruel for most viewers because of what they depict. The earlier episode mentioned was more a downright gory depiction of animal slaughter and thus more effective in what it does; this one on the other hand is the type of film one might dismiss as being an exploitative or snuff movie that could offend many. It consists of a single shot of a young boy possibly eight or nine, dangling a frog from a fishhook and seemingly celebrating his catch. Not particularly disturbing like "Pan 697", but more cruel and insulting rather than making an impact, although as always it can't be judged out of its context. And admittedly, even despite how provoking it may seem, one can't deny that the single shot itself is colorful, effective and somewhat memorable due to the composition and the unusual scene it presents.
