The Lives of Perfomers

I should have written this earlier, before we discussed it in class. However, I am going to try and make this post as organic as possible and say what I was I was thinking about this film when I first finished watching it. It was a profound relief, like breathing again after an asthma attack or finding water in an endless desert. At last the long and arduous process of watching the film was over.

If The Lives of Performers is art posing as science, than as science it still infuriates me to some small degree. In other words, even now upon understanding the intentions of her film it seems more like an experiment than a completed actual film.

Now, having read all the articles about it and having discussed it in small group I believe my initial issue with the film as being too much like science was a fair criticism. After all, like a great deal of those things that are avant-garde, the films are like tests. And the outside of that, as we discussed in class I also think the film failed on its own terms.

It wasn't the worst film I have ever seen (Crash holds that very special distinction) but I would certainly never want to endure it again.

I don't doubt the infamous imdb guy's claim that the audience walked out. I don't walk out on movies, ever, but I could certainly see why someone would.