[Streaming] Warren Sonbert + Mike Kuchar

Because the pandemic has shuttered most theatres, many independent venues and film collectives had chosen to generate some revenue by streaming material online. 

New York's fabled Anthology Film Archives turned to the internet to commemorate what would be their fiftieth anniversary of programming. Last month, for a limited engagement, they streamed an exact reproduction of their very first program decades ago, consisting of a few experimental shorts. And now for a limited time, you are able to view a Mike Kuchar short on their Vimeo account. His 30-minute Death Cult Of The Ju-Ju's (1976; pictured above) can be rented for $3.99 US to stream for a 72-hour period.

Synopsis from the AFA: "Arguably Mike’s solo magnum opus, DEATH QUEST is a mini-epic that gleefully and lovingly combines two of Mike’s favorite – if seemingly irreconcilable – genres. What appears at first to be a straightforward prehistoric tale soon morphs into something else entirely, with the deux ex machina appearance of…sorry, no spoilers. In any case, whatever the genre, DEATH QUEST was made with a nearly non-existent budget, but with admirably game actors, Mike’s uniquely resourceful visual gifts, and his inimitable ability to combine mischievous parody with wide-eyed sincerity."

It is a rare treat to view anything by the brothers George or Mike Kuchar. Click here to view and support the AFA. 

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Warren Sonbert's work warrants multiple viewings- all the more frustrating that one could only see it in various one-off venues. Gartenberg Media is changing that. We belatedly discovered that three of Sonbert's early works, all from 1966, Amphetamine (10 min), Where Did Our Love Go? (15 min) and his modern classic Hall Of Mirrors (7 min, pictured above), can be streamed for free until January 5. 

From Gartenberg's webpage: "Sonbert’s earliest films, in which he captured the spirit of his generation, were inspired first by the university milieu and then by the denizens of the Warhol art scene, including superstars Rene Ricard and Gerard Malanga. In these loosely structured narratives, Sonbert boldly experimented with the relationship between filmmaker and protagonists through extensively choreographed hand-held camera movements within each shot. The mood of these films was further modulated by chiaroscuro effects, achieved primarily through natural lighting (in both indoor and outdoor shots), combined with variations in the raw film stock and the exposure and the use of rock-and-roll music on the soundtrack."

Visit this link here to view them while you still can. More of Sonbert's work will be made available by Gartenberg through 2021.