FILM list.co.uk/film
UNCOVERING KUCHAR Underground fi lmmaker George Kuchar is celebrated in two events as part of Glasgow Film Festival
I t’s hard to ignore an event titled ‘A Laxative of Love for the Constipated Cinefile’. The line, taken from the dedication in the autobiography of low budget filmmaking brothers George and Mike Kuchar, reads in full: ‘Dedicated to every motley crew of no-budget blockusters [sic]: May the fruits of your labour continue to be a laxative of love for the constipated cinefile.’ It sums up George Kuchar’s philosophy on filmmaking: subversive, low budget and with a wicked sense of humour.
Bronx filmmaker George Kuchar made over 200 films in his lifetime and became known for his camp style and commitment to putting films together on a shoe-string budget. He began making films with his twin brother when they were given an 8mm camera aged 12, and went on to become part of the burgeoning underground filmmaking scene in New York in the 60s alongside Andy Warhol and Jonas Mekas.
58 THE LIST 24 Jan–21 Feb 2013
Four of Kuchar’s early films, including arguable his most famous, ‘Hold Me While I’m Naked’, will show as part of Glasgow Short Film Festival. A second event at Tramway on Thu 21 Feb will show Kuchar’s ‘Weather Diaries’ – a series of first person videos documenting his annual trips to Oklahoma during tornado season. Whilst not a household name like some of his fame-toting contemporaries, Kuchar was still an influential figure. In an interview with The New York Times, John Waters says of the Kuchar brothers: ‘They inspired four to five generations of militantly eccentric art fans. To me they were the Warner Brothers of the underground.’ (Gail Tolley)
George Kuchar: A Laxative of Love for the Constipated Cinefile, Sat 9 Feb, CCA, Glasgow; George Kuchar: Weather Diaries, Thu 21 Feb, Tramway, Glasgow.
HITLIST THE BEST FILM RELEASES & EVENTS
✽ Glasgow Film Festival 2012 Take your pick from over 300 events across 27 venues, including more than 50 UK premieres. See feature, page 10. Various venues, Glasgow, Sun 3–Sun 24 Feb.
✽ Wreck It Ralph Adorable Disney animation about the
eponymous Ralph, a video game villain aspiring to be a hero. Includes voices from John C Reilly and Sarah Silverman. See review, page 60. General release from Fri 8 Feb.
✽ Zero Dark Thirty Katherine Bigelow delivers another powerful contemporary
war film, following her Oscar winner The Hurt
Locker, this time about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, and starring actress of the moment Jessica Chastain. General release from Fri 25 Jan.
✽ Lincoln Spielberg’s 12-year labour of love is an epic story of the last four months in the life of Abraham Lincoln as he attempts to pass the 13th amendment abolishing slavery. It’s up for 12 Oscar nominations. See review, page 61. General release from Fri 25 Feb.
✽ Antiviral Impressive debut from 28-year- old Brandon (son of David) Cronenberg.
A slick body horror with a satirical edge about celebrity obsession. See review, page 62. Selected release from Fri 1 Feb.
✽ Intertidal Canadian artist Alex Mackenzie presents his exploration of Vancouver’s marine ecology. A unique live performance using two 16mm projections and live film manipulation. See preview, page 63. CCA, Glasgow, Sun 10 Feb; Whitespace, Edinburgh, Thu 14 Feb.