Surrealism and Science: The Weird World of Jean PainlevÉ

Synopsis

A compilation of nine short films relating to surrealism and science made by Jean Painlevé between 1926 and 1976. Trained as a biologist, Painlevé made nearly 200 scientific films, but he soon became closely involved with surrealism and this sense of poetry and humour carried through to his scientific films, bridging the gulf separating science from art, and documentary from cinema.
1 (1926, b/w, 10 min): Five filmed inserts for a play by the expresionist Ivan Goll, starring Antonin Artaud. Mathusalem is a shoe seller who dreams he will conquer the world. Music by Maxime Jacob.
2 (1934, b/w, 15 min): A study of ‘the only vertical fish’ and Painlevé's most famous film. Music by Darius Milhaud.
3 (1939-45, b/w, 9 min): Painlevé was fascinated by the tradition linking the bat with the devil and includes an extract from Murnau’s NOSFERATU in this film. Music by Duke Ellington.
4 (1954, col, 10 min): Remake of a 1929 film on the sea urchin, which explores its anatomy by making the creature transparent. Sounds in homage to Edgar Varèse.
5 (1964, col, 10 min): Painlevé's third film on the shrimp focuses on its sex life. Music by Pierre Conté.
6 (1929, b/w, 10 min): An assortment of spider crabs and aquatic flora are choreographed in a ‘ballet’ set to the music of Chopin.
7 (1965, col, 13 min): The original inspiration for Painlevé's career, octopuses were filmed over ten years to produce this passionate account of their reproductive cycle. Music by Pierre Henry.
8 (1972, col, 13 min): The sexual customs of shellfish produce suggestive images. Music by Pierre Jansen.
9 (1976, col, 6 min): A film visually composed to a score by a composer who died on an underwater expedition. Music by Françoise de Roubaix.

Language

English

Country

France

Medium

Video; Videocassette. VHS. b&w/col. 95 min.

Year of production

1995

Availability

Out of distribution

Notes

A DVD of Painlevé's films was released in 2007 by the BFI under the title SCIENCE IS FICTION/THE SOUNDS OF SCIENCE

Subjects

Biology; Media studies

Keywords

bats; crabs; documentary films; Goll, Ivan; octopus; scientific cinematography; sea horses; sea urchins; shellfish; shrimp; surrealism

Credits

Director

Jean Painlevé

Sections

Title

Mathusalem

Synopsis

1 (1926, b/w, 10 min): Five filmed inserts for a play by the expresionist Ivan Goll, starring Antonin Artaud. Mathusalem is a shoe seller who dreams he will conquer the world. Music by Maxime Jacob.

Title

Sea horse, The

Synopsis

2 (1934, b/w, 15 min): A study of 'the only vertical fish' and Painlevé's most famous film. Music by Darius Milhaud.

Title

Vampire, The

Synopsis

3 (1939-45, b/w, 9 min): Painlevé was fascinated by the tradition linking the bat with the devil and includes an extract from Murnau's NOSFERATU in this film. Music by Duke Ellington.

Title

Sea urchins

Synopsis

4 (1954, col, 10 min): Remake of a 1929 film on the sea urchin, which explores its anatomy by making the creature transparent. Sounds in homage to Edgar Varèse.

Title

Shrimp stories

Synopsis

5 (1964, col, 10 min): Painlevé's third film on the shrimp focuses on its sex life. Music by Pierre Conté.

Title

Hyas and stenorhyncus

Synopsis

6 (1929, b/w, 10 min): An assortment of spider crabs and aquatic flora are choreographed in a 'ballet' set to the music of Chopin.

Title

Love life of the octopus, The

Synopsis

7 (1965, col, 13 min): The original inspiration for Painlevé's career, octopuses were filmed over ten years to produce this passionate account of their reproductive cycle. Music by Pierre Henry.

Title

Acera, or The witches’ dance

Synopsis

8 (1972, col, 13 min): The sexual customs of shellfish produce suggestive images. Music by Pierre Jansen.

Title

Liquid crystals

Synopsis

9 (1976, col, 6 min): A film visually composed to a score by a composer who died on an underwater expedition. Music by Françoise de Roubaix.

Distributor

Name

BFI Video

Email

video.films@bfi.org.uk

Web

http://www.bfi.org.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7957 8957

Fax

020 7957 8968

Address

21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN

 

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