Filmmakers

“In this film, Iimura creates a short self-portrait as well as brief portraits of five of his peers: Brakhage, Vanderbeek, Smith, Mekas and Warhol. In each portrait, Iimura attempts to copy the styles and traits of each artist (Vanderbeek’s constantly moving camera; Mekas’ experiments with film speed; Warhol’s use of flashes of white against a black background), while briefly commenting on the images being shown. The film serves effectively as an introduction to the film styles of these artists.I would recommend this film only to those truly interested in avant garde cinema. The goal of Iimura’s work was not to entertain but to advance the medium as an art form.” –Trent Daniel, art house/international (USA)
“This is a film portrait of filmmakers whom I was most interested in at the time; Stan Brakhage, Stan Vanderbeek, Jack Smith, Jonas Mekas, Andy Warhol, and Takahiko Iimura, shot during my first visit in U. S. A., 1966-1968, and then completed in Japan, 1969 with “comments” literally pointing out in words what I see in the picture at the moment (like an English lesson). Each filmmaker’s part is about 5 minutes (200 feet) (except Iimura, 50 feet) without editing but in camera, most is shot without looking through the viewfinder. A part of Jonas Mekas is shot by himself and Akiko Iimura. Intentionally the film “borrowed” the technique of the filmmaker in his part (ex. frame-by frame shot at the part of Jonas Mekas as he has often employed it in his film). Collection of Anthology Film Archives, New York.” –T. I.