Director: Godfrey Reggio.
Certificate: U.
Running Time: 86 Minutes.
First off it is important to stress that this isn’t a film in the traditional sense. It’s not even a documentary, it’s what is classed as an experimental film. There is no plot or cast or dialogue. So what does it have? I hear you cry. VISITORS is a series of around 70 images to music. At just under a ninety-minute runtime you can see that each image has around one minute screen-time.
The images don’t tell a narrative and the film is much more of an art gallery you can take home. Art and photography enthusiasts will enjoy the imagery and what it may, or may not, stand for. Those with other interests may find the whole affair befuddling and contrived. Personally, having grown up with the MTV generation, I have to say that the wait time between the images was excruciating. The accompanying music goes from being slow and mystical, to overpowering, and although mostly pleasant, it in some ways interrupts the film.
Shot in 4K black-and-white, the quality of course is lost as the images are downgraded to DVD and Blu-Ray resolutions.
In some people, some of the images may stir emotions and memories from long ago, but I just kept thinking – is this it? Should you choose to watch this, make sure you’re prepared for the experience, it is not a film to go into blind. Because of its marmite premise, and with art being completely subjective, we’re staying on the fence for this one and will let those brave enough to experience the experimental film have the final say.
[usr=3] VISITORS is released on Blu-Ray and DVD on Monday 21st July 2014.
