Interpretations, contests
Kenneth Anger’s films
Film director, actor and publisher
Kenneth Anger was born in Santa Monica (South California)
in 1930. He was raised in Hollywood so that he made his
film debut as early as 1935, in a Hollywood comedy A
Midsummer Night’s Dream. He was very young when he
started shooting short films; he made his first masterpiece Fireworks at
the age of 17 (1947). The film masterfully interweaved
scenes of accentuated homosexuality and raw violence securing
him a place among the pioneers of the American avant-garde
movement of the 40s, the likes of Maya Deren, James Broughton,
Curtis Harrington and others. Themes of violence and homosexuality
continued to figure in his later works, like Scorpio
Rising (1964) and Invocation of My Demon
Brother (1969). His absorption with mighty machines
and American popular culture was especially prominent in
his most famous film Scorpio Rising, and a bit less
in the stylistic miniature Kustom Kar Kommandos (1965).
However,
his greatest passion remained the teaching of the famous
Satanist and occultist Alistair Crowley. Under his influence,
obsessed with occult and mystical themes, Anger directed
the movies Inauguration of the Pleasure
Dome (1954), Invocation of My Demon Brother and Lucifer
Rising (1973-1980). Finally, one must not forget
his fascination with Hollywood, especially with the
silent film, which resulted in a beautiful short film Puce
Moment (1949) and the books Hollywood Babylon and Hollywood
Babylon II, describing the hidden worlds of Hollywood
stars. Anger spent his life outside the establishment of
the classical film production, barely succeeding to raise
money for his projects. For that reason he shot all his
films on 16mm tape and never used dialogues. On the other
hand, the scarcity forced him to express freely, to make
most of his poetical spirit and an unusual talent for filmmaking.
His films abound with fascinating, hypnotic, surreal atmosphere,
which does not fade even after numerous viewings. Anger
belongs to those original directors whose works have made
a significant impact on several generations of young filmmakers.
A text is supplemented by a Anger’s filmography (as a
director and as an actor).
Elvis Leniæ |
