A special double bill of cult, rarely screened films, chosen by Caspar Heinemann during his exhibition Sod All.
The Moon and the Sledgehammer, (1971) is a British documentary film directed by Philip Trevelyan, which documents the eccentric lives of the Page family. Living without mains gas, electricity or running water, the family live a simple but self-sufficient existence in their ramshackle house, tucked away within a six-acre woodland property 20 miles south of London. In this forest, away from the hubbub of modern life, The Moon and the Sledgehammer observes how the family passes their time, with each member spelling out their personal fantasies, obsessions and philosophies to the camera. This freedom to focus on their fixations, whether machines, the moon, or their own philosophies, points to a family carving out a life on their own terms, in quiet defiance of the structured pace just beyond the forest’s edge.
Wax or the Discovery of Television Among the Bees (1991) is the first independent feature film by American filmmaker and artist David Blair, and the first film to be live-streamed on the internet. Set in Alamogordo, New Mexico, Wax tells the surreal story of Jacob Maker, a programmer of weapon and flight simulators who keeps a special Mesopotamian breed of bees. His life takes an abrupt turn when the bees take over his consciousness, allowing him to communicate with the dead. His hallucinations are visualised by psychedelic collages of computer animation, video feedback textures, home videos, archival photos and found footage.
6.30–7.35 pm: The Moon & The Sledgehammer
7.35–7.50 pm: Interval
7.50–9.15 pm: Wax Or The Discovery Of Television Among The Bees
Tickets are for admission to both films. This is a relaxed viewing, and audience members are free to join and leave during the screening. Screenings will start at the advertised times, with doors opening at 6 pm. Drinks are available to purchase from Crispin at Studio Voltaire.
