410. Ghost Strata; movie review

 

 

GHOST STRATA

Cert TBA

45 mins

BBFC advice: TBA

Many films prompt me to scratch my head but, after 45 minutes with Ghost Strata, I thought I might have no scalp.

Ben Rivers' film made so little sense to me that I felt compelled to dig out its press release.

It states: '‘Ghost Strata’ refers to the missing elements from within the rock strata that despite their absence offer hints of what was once there. 

"The film is divided into the months of the year in which the footage was captured. Filmed in various places over the globe, charting various personal movements of the filmmaker, Ghost Strata explores the differing scales of impact that humanity’s presence has on the earth in the past, present and into the future. Found sound and text create a meditation on time, memory, leftovers and extinction."

Further reading indicates that there are people out there who understand the above and even empathise with it.

I did not - taking in a self-indulgent art project, akin to one which might be presented by a particularly pretentious student, is not my idea of a good time.

It turns out that Ghost Strata follows the film-maker as he built-up to co-directing Krabi 2562. 

I reviewed the latter in August and wrote: "Just when I am so wrapped up in film-watching that I fear I am drifting into Pseud's Corner, I bump into a movie which proves I haven't developed an appreciation for abstract art after all."

Well, multiply that thought by ten for my opinion of Ghost Strata.

It made no sense to me at all and I think we are better to draw a line under it there.

Thankfully, it only lasted 45 minutes.

Reasons to watch: If you are somehow on the same plane as its makers

Reasons to avoid: Makes absolutely no sense

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: Very brief artistic nudity

Overall rating: 0.5/10

Did you know? Ben Rivers studied Fine Art at Falmouth School of Art from 1990-3. Shortly after graduating, in 1996, he became director and programmer at Brighton Cinematheque, a post he held for ten years.

The final word. “All your movies are about you, but [this one] is about your relationship with time.” - a cartomancer to Ben Rivers at the start of January, the first of the 12 chapters that make up Ghost Strata

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