Shot in his garage-studio, the camera records Ader painstakingly hoisting a large brick over his shoulder. His figure is harshly lit by two tangles of light bulbs. He drops the brick, crushing one strand of lights. He again lifts the brick, allowing tension to accrue. The climax inevitable—the brick falls and crushes the second set of lights. Here the film abruptly ends, all illumination extinguished.
Direction
Ader turns a garage into a cathedral of dread.
Cinematography
Two lightbulb clusters achieve more tension than most thrillers.
Director
Bas Jan Ader
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Ader was a central figure in the California conceptual art scene, using his own body as primary medium.
US
