Free Radicals

it seems simple, almost too simple. white scratches on black film, abstract lines that move to the rhythm of african drums. yet this film is captivating. the lines seem to become three-dimensional and jump out at you, and combine with the beat to dance. worth seeing if you get the chance.

I was ready to lambast this until I read a bit about it. There is an integration of interesting sounds and the static-like visual impressions pushed on us. After about a minute, I had sort of given up. But eventually I got into the rhythm of it. Many of these short films are inundated with a hit and miss direction.

Free Radicals (1958)

*** (out of 4)

Len Lye isn't a very well-known name and I'd say 99.9% of the mainstream public won't know who he is. This short is perhaps one of his best known works to the small minority who do know the filmmaker and the history of this thing is pretty incredible. Basically Lye took some film and scratched it. Yes, that's pretty much what the entire four minute is but it's not just any random scratches. It's clear that Lye had a vision and just check out the credits and how they are presented here. They certainly make you stand up and pay attention to what's going on. The entire running time we're basically given a black screen with scratches and I'm sure many will wonder what the point of this is. Is this film going to be viewed by the masses? Is it grand entertainment that is a must see for film buffs? Not really on either account but at the same time it's certainly something different and fans of the surreal should at least find it worth viewing.

This is absolutely essential viewing for anyone into experimental film. I cannot believe it is 50 years old, it is absolutely timeless and suggests that we haven't progressed much since. I have never seen music and images work so well together, it's like the drums are fused with the visuals to create a new medium altogether. Stunning creativity and attention to detail, a beautifully 'simple' idea perfectly executed. To think of old Len visualising his then diligently scraping away film emulsion to the beats in his head is very exciting indeed (to me, at least). If you haven't seen this and are into experimental film, track it down - it's as essential as your By Brakhage Criterion DVD.

FREE RADICALS has very glowing reviews and I have to dissent. Having seen many, many animated shorts and experimental films, when I saw this film I thought "oh no--not ANOTHER film like this!". That's because I've seen lots of films with simply drawn images (often scratched into the film) dancing to the music. With films such as FREE RADICALS, A COLOUR BOX and HARPYA (among others) in this style, you certainly CAN'T call this film original or ground-breaking. It's just one of several and after seeing one or two, I can't stand the thought of watching more.

Overall, it's interesting if you haven't seen anything like it, but otherwise I can't see the point. Plus, if you show it to kids, they're likely to balk at seeing the film--even though it is only five minutes in length.