Welcome, dear readers, to another edition of Sunday Morning Movie. Today, we delve into an experimental film: A Child’s Garden and the Serious Sea.
Next week’s selection:
One Eyed Jacks
Reviews for A Child’s Garden and the Serious Sea:
Letterboxd provides the following insight:
This film, seeded in poetry, flourishes as a visual inscription of light and shadow, where reflection dances among blossoms, trees, and waters—evoking a nostalgic return to a forgotten Eden. It enshrines the warmth of family moments shared in the artist’s wife’s childhood locale. The film captures the essence of life, interwoven with the grandeur of Okeanos, the life-giver. The tension between high and low art dissolves here, with an autonomy that challenges societal norms. Mimesis, in its most primal form, becomes a remedy. The wonder reflected in a child’s gaze conjures an expansive imagination, illustrating a universe where love transcends mortality.
Moreover, it offers more than mere visuals; it provokes contemplation of perception itself. In watching, reality unfolds—yet, this reality holds meaning only for the viewer. Its resonance transports us to a space where garden and sea coexist as distinct, yet interconnected realms. Despite emotional depth, both settings maintain a tangible sense of place, with dark silences between cuts evoking abstract realms.
Throughout the viewing, the film’s intimate world merges seamlessly with my own, leaving me in a tranquil state of appreciation for beauty. The film is subtly mesmerizing, culminating in the serene visual of white spots amidst a black screen resembling stars in the night sky.
Undoubtedly, one of Brakhage’s finest works.
My perspective: While I acknowledge its unique appeal isn’t universal, I enjoy exploring different experiences. This film captivates me, prompting questions about perception—are those lights reflections on water or stars from afar? The ambiguity is intentional, inviting viewers to embrace dreamy interpretations rather than seeking hard meanings.
One critique I have is the inclusion of human figures and structures. I felt that scenes of nature were more immersive, while the human elements disrupted the film’s flow. I appreciated A Child’s Garden and the Serious Sea, but it feels like a one-time experience. I give it a ⭐.
A note: As it’s a silent film, I found the pace slow without sound. To enhance my experience, I played music from the Polish ambient group Mer de Rev’s album How to Disappear Completely, which is also great for relaxation:
Cinematography: Stan Brakhage
This film has no specific plot; rather, it showcases footage captured during Brakhage’s visit to his wife’s childhood home in British Columbia. Here’s how the YouTube page describes it:
A Film in Two Parts: Innocence and Awe.
This silent, 75-minute journey is a deep exploration of two approaches to perception. Part one, “A Child’s Garden,” presents a vivid, colorful interpretation of how a child perceives the world, while the second part, “The Serious Sea,” confronts viewers with nature’s overwhelming power.
The Art of Painting on Film.
This film represents a remarkable feat of handmade cinema. Rather than using traditional filmmaking techniques, Stan Brakhage painted and altered the celluloid directly, merging materials like moth wings and flower petals onto the film strip. His intention was to create a “closed-eye vision,” illustrating the unseen beauty that the mind’s eye captures. The outcome is an intensely personal and visual experience, conveying the artist’s consciousness directly to the audience.
