A Spell to Ward Off the Darkness

  • 98'
  • France
  • 2013
Musician Robert AA Lowe, known principally from his intense performances under the name of Lichens, plays an anonymous man in three seemingly different phases of his life. Directors Ben Rivers and Ben Russell show him philosophising at a 15-strong commune on the small island of Vormsi in Estonia; alone and isolated in the majestic wilderness of Hyrynsalmi in northern Finland; and during a wild concert as singer and guitarist of a black-metal band in Oslo, hypnotically filmed in a single take.
Like much of their previous work, this first, close cooperation between experimental filmmakers Rivers and Russell is full of symbolism, slowly-changing landscapes, rituals, and nomads who have withdrawn from society. Loneliness, Utopia and ecstasy succeed one another in a meandering triptych without commentary, somewhere between fiction and non-fiction. In this way, the makers strive to create space for uncertainty and mystery in an age when everything has to be explained. Also see Let Us Persevere in What We Have Resolved Before We Forget in combined programme Before We Forget in Spectrum Shorts.

  • 98'
  • France
  • 2013
Directors
Ben Russell, Ben Rivers
Countries of production
France, Estonia
Year
2013
Festival Edition
IFFR 2013
Length
98'
Medium
DCP
Language
English
Producers
Julie Gayet, Nadia Turincev
Production Company
Rouge International
Sales
Rouge International
Screenplay
Ben Rivers, Ben Russell
Cinematography
Ben Rivers, Ben Russell
Editor
Ben Rivers, Ben Russell
Sound Design
Philippe Ciompi, Chu-Li Shewring
Website
http://www.aspelltowardoffthedarkness.com
Directors
Ben Russell, Ben Rivers
Countries of production
France, Estonia
Year
2013
Festival Edition
IFFR 2013
Length
98'
Medium
DCP
Language
English
Producers
Julie Gayet, Nadia Turincev
Production Company
Rouge International
Sales
Rouge International
Screenplay
Ben Rivers, Ben Russell
Cinematography
Ben Rivers, Ben Russell
Editor
Ben Rivers, Ben Russell
Sound Design
Philippe Ciompi, Chu-Li Shewring
Website
http://www.aspelltowardoffthedarkness.com