Living

Man, woman and camera live in mutual tension with each other and the empty space. Zwartjes’ masterpiece.tekst IFFR 1992:Living is a demonstration of the virtuoso camera-work in the films of Zwartjes from this period. He plays the lead in the film, but at the same time operates the (hand-held) camera which he points at himself. Zwartjes’ technique of hand-held filming (without looking through the viewfinder which he couldn’t anyway in this case) in rapid yet flowing movements reaches its perfection here. Zwartjes: ‘I was as strong as an ox in those days.’ The film is part of the series Home Sweet Home, exploring the various rooms in a house (Zwartjes’ own house, new at the time, in The Hague). Zwartjes’ wife Trix also plays a role in Living.The film was shot with an extremely wide-angle lens which distorted the surroundings and the people. The latter move restlessly through the house; the mood is that of a nightmare. The journey through the house to the top ends in the light.