Stan Brakhage
Stan Brakhage is one of the most influential filmmakers in American avant-garde cinema, noted for his unflinching social commentaries and technical innovations. Over his nearly 40-year career, he has made over 200 films of varying length. He made his first film, Interim (1952) at age 18 after dropping out of college. Brakhage films seek to change the way we see. They encourage viewers to eschew traditional narrative structure in favor of pure visual perception that is not reliant on naming what is seen; rather his goal is to create a more visceral visual experience, for he believes that a "stream-of visual-consciousness could be nothing less than the pathway of the soul." To this end, his films are shot in highly sensual colors and utilize minimal soundtracks. His work can be divided into distinct periods. His first short films explored the properties and possibilities of light. In many of his experimental ventures, Brakhage has forgone traditional cinematography in favor of working directly with the film stock itself. He has occasionally painted, inked, scratched and dyed images onto it; he has also tried pasting organic objects on the film. His most famous example is the 1963 short Mothlight in which he glued moth wings onto the stock. Some of his early films were based on his most intimate experiences that included making love to his new bride--depicted on negative film--in Wedlock House: An Intercourse (1959), and an attempt to bring his dead dog back to life with a camera in Sirius Remembered (1959). During the 1960s, Brakhage's iconoclastic views were celebrated for their poetry, but during the '70s, his focus changed to social issues and he alienated many supporters with such disturbing film series as the "Pittsburgh documents" in which he presented many gruesome views of inner city life with films such as Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes (1971) which was shot in a morgue. He also continued with autobiographical material with the "Sincerity/Duplicity series. During the 1980s, Brakhage's focus again changed--this time he became intrigued with creating truly "abstract" films such as Arabics (1982) which consists of brilliant bursts of colored light which he claims, represent "envisioned music." In addition to filmmaking, Brakhage also wrote books about films and filmmaking and also served as a teacher.
Cast
A Visit to Stan Brakhage
Himself
Sonic Youth: Koncertas Stan Brakhage Prisiminimui (April 12, 2003)
Self (archive footage)
Encomium
Self
In the Mirror of Maya Deren
Himself
Stan & Jane Brakhage
Self
Brakhage Crosses Central Park
Self
Cat's Cradle
Self
Window Water Baby Moving
Self (uncredited)
Dog Star Man: Part IV
Unknown
Doodlin': Impressions Of Len Lye
Self
Flesh of Morning
Unknown
Brakhage
Self
Reflecting Thought: Stan Brakhage
Self
Please Leave a Message: Anthology Film Archives Voicemails Through the Ages
Unknown
Trumpit
Unknown
I Met Stan Brakhage (At Moma, N.Y.C)
Unknown
Vakvagany
Himself
A Visit to Stan Brakhage
Unknown
Garden Path
Unknown
Cannibal! The Musical
Noon Sr.
Z (Zee Not Zed)
Unknown
Joseph Cornell: Worlds in a Box
Self
The One Romantic Venture of Edward
Unknown
The Extraordinary Child
Unknown
I... Dreaming
Unknown
As I Was Moving Ahead, Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty
Self
Song 1
Unknown
The Stars Are Beautiful
Narrator (voice)
Faust's Other: An Idyll
Unknown
Wedlock House: An Intercourse
Unknown
Birth of a Nation
Self
Dog Star Man: Part I
Unknown
Dog Star Man: Part II
Unknown
Prelude: Dog Star Man
Unknown
Dog Star Man: Part III
Unknown
As Is Was
Unknown
The Art of Vision
Man
Free Radicals: A History of Experimental Film
Himself
For Stan
Himself
Grand Opera: An Historical Romance
Himself (voice)
Filmmakers
Himself
Invocation: Maya Deren
Himself
Watunna
Narrator
Tortured Dust
Unknown
Looking at Forest of Bliss
Himself
Stan Brakhage Exits the Cinema and Enters the Light of Day
Himself
Reality's Invisible
Himself
Jonas in the Desert
Self
Notes on Marie Menken
Self (archive footage)
Keepers of the Frame
Himself
Keeping an Eye on Stan
Unknown
Stan Brakhage on Jim Davis
Unknown
Stan Brakhage on Gregory Markopoulos
Unknown
Abstract Cinema
Himself
Diaries, Notes, and Sketches
Self
Life with Stan #4: Stan Painting
Unknown
BRAKHAGE ON BRAKHAGE
self
Dog Star Man
Unknown
Dinner with Brakhage and Gamow
Unknown
Preserving Cultural Traditions in a Period of Instability
Voice
Songs
Self (Uncredited)
Crew
Visions in Meditation
Director
Arabic Numeral Series
Director
Persian Series
Director
Untitled Film of Geoffrey Holder's Wedding
Director
Dog Star Man: Part I
Director
The Boy and the Sea
Director
Delicacies of Molten Horror Synapse
Director
The Art of Vision
Director, Editor, Producer, Cinematography
Glaze of Cathexis
Director
Window Water Baby Moving
Director, Director of Photography, Editor
Mothlight
Director
The Wold-Shadow
Director
Cat's Cradle
Director
Eye Myth
Director
Faust's Other: An Idyll
Director
Study in Color and Black and White
Director
Scenes from Under Childhood, Section One
Director
The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes
Director, Editor, Director of Photography
Wedlock House: An Intercourse
Director
Desistfilm
Director, Editor, Writer, Cinematography
Crack Glass Eulogy
Director
Kindering
Director
The Dante Quartet
Director
The Stars Are Beautiful
Director, Editor, Writer, Cinematography
Untitled (For Marilyn)
Director
Night Music
Director
Comingled Containers
Director
Black Ice
Director
The Dark Tower
Director
Stellar
Director
Lovesong
Director
Rage Net
Director
I... Dreaming
Director
The Garden of Earthly Delights
Director
Unglassed Windows Cast a Terrible Reflection
Director, Editor, Cinematography, Writer
Rounds
Director
Thigh Line Lyre Triangular
Director, Cinematography, Editor
Prelude: Dog Star Man
Director
The Wonder Ring
Director, Cinematography, Editor
Centuries of June
Director
The Text of Light
Director, Director of Photography
The Process
Director
The God of Day Had Gone Down Upon Him
Director
The Way to Shadow Garden
Director, Cinematography, Sound Designer, Writer, Editor
Dog Star Man: Part II
Director
Blue Moses
Director, Cinematography, Writer, Editor
Dog Star Man: Part IV
Director
Dog Star Man: Part III
Director
Autumnal
Director
From: First Hymn to the Night – Novalis
Director
Chinese Series
Director
Two: Creeley/McClure
Director
The Machine of Eden
Director
Burial Path
Director
Sirius Remembered
Director
The Dead
Director
Anticipation of the Night
Director
Reflections on Black
Director, Writer, Editor, Cinematography
A Child’s Garden and the Serious Sea
Director
Boulder Blues and Pearls and...
Director
The Mammals of Victoria
Director
Short Films 1975: #1 (Jane’s Memory)
Director
Short Films 1975: #3 (Hollis Frampton)
Director
Short Films 1975: #2 (Dante’s Styx)
Director
Short Films 1975: #5 (Niagara Falls)
Director
Short Films 1975: #4 (Lady in Glass)
Director
Short Films 1975: #8 (Small Town Streets)
Director
Short Films 1975: #6 (Stars, Chickens, Eyes, Candles)
Director
Short Films 1975: #7 (Turning the Raccoon Loose)
Director
Flesh of Morning
Director
The Riddle of Lumen
Director
Ephemeral Solidity
Director
Three Homerics
Director
Persian Series 1-5
Director
Loving
Director
The Horseman, the Woman, and the Moth
Director
Pasht
Director
Fire of Waters
Director
The Extraordinary Child
Director, Editor, Cinematography, Writer
Interim
Director, Writer, Editor, Cinematography
Song 6
Director
Song 10
Director
Song 4
Director
Song 12
Director
Song 14
Director
Song 2
Director
Song 3
Director
Song 8
Director
Song 13
Director
Song 9
Director
Song 5
Director, Cinematography, Editor
Song 11
Director
Song 1
Director, Editor, Cinematography
Song 7
Director
Elementary Phrases
Director
Naughts
Director
Ballad of the Colorado Ute
Editor, Cinematography, Director
Murder Psalm
Director
Song of the Mushroom
Director
Creation
Director
The Women
Director
Gadflies
Director
Silent Sound Sense Stars Subotnick and Sender
Director
Wecht
Director
The Weir-Falcon Saga
Director
Mr. Tompkins Inside Himself
Editor, Director, Writer
Deus Ex
Director
Thot-Fal'N
Director, Editor, Cinematography
The Domain of the Moment
Director
Visions in Meditation #1
Director
Desert
Director
I Take These Truths
Director
Eyes
Director
Star Garden
Director
Duplicity III
Director
Visions in Meditation #3: Plato's Cave
Director
Visions in Meditation #2: Mesa Verde
Director
Visions in Meditation #4: D.H. Lawrence
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 12
Director
Zone Moment
Director
Nightcats
Director
Unconscious London Strata
Director
Yggdrasill: Whose Roots Are Stars in the Human Mind
Director
The Cat of the Worm's Green Realm
Director
"..." Reel 5
Director
Western History
Director
Sexual Meditation: Room with View
Director
Sexual Meditation: Hotel
Director
Door
Director
Lovemaking
Director
Three Films: Blue White/Blood's Tone/Vein
Director
Sincerity I
Director
Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Three
Director
The Shores of Phos: A Fable
Director
Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Two
Director
The Animals of Eden and After
Director
Daybreak and Whiteye
Director
The Peaceable Kingdom
Director
Scenes from Under Childhood, Section Four
Director
Angels'
Director
Skein
Director
Aquarien
Director
Sexual Meditation: Open Field
Director
Roman Numeral: II
Director
Max
Director
Water for Maya
Director
Window Suite of Children's Songs
Director
Song 21
Director
Song 24
Director
American 30s Song
Director
My Mountain: Song 27
Director
Song 20
Director
Song 17
Director
My Mtn. Song 27 Part II: Rivers
Director
Song 22
Director
Song 25
Director
Song 18
Director
Song 19
Director
Song 16
Director
Song 28
Director
Song 26
Director
15 Song Traits
Director
Song 29
Director
Jane
Director, Editor, Director of Photography
Loud Visual Noises
Director
Sexual Meditation: Office Suite
Director
Sexual Meditation: Faun's Room, Yale
Director
Garden Path
Director
The Harrowing
Director
Tryst Haunt
Director
Films by Stan Brakhage: An Avant-Garde Home Movie
Director
In Between
Director, Cinematography, Editor, Writer
Sartre's Nausea
Director
Oh Life - a Woe Story - the A Test News
Director
Persian Series #11
Director
Persian Series #7
Director
Persian Series #6
Director
Persian Series #12
Director
Persian Series #8
Director
Persian Series #10
Director
Persian Series #9
Director
The Trip to Door
Director
Fox Fire Child Watch
Director
Egyptian Series
Director
Persian Series #17
Director
Persian Series #13
Director
Persian Series #14
Director
Persian Series #15
Director
Persian Series #18
Director
Persian Series #16
Director
Seasons...
Director
Eye Myth Educational
Writer, Director
Jesus Trilogy and Coda
Director
Ascension
Director
Panels for the Walls of Heaven
Director
Chartres Series
Director
Self Song & Death Song
Director
Dark Night of The Soul
Director
Resurrectus Est
Director
Shockingly Hot
Director
The 'b' Series
Director
The Birds Of Paradise
Director
Prelude 3
Director
Prelude 4
Director
Prelude 1
Director
Prelude 2
Director
Prelude 9
Director
Prelude 11
Director
Prelude 7
Director
Prelude 5
Director
Prelude 12
Director
Prelude 8
Director
Prelude 13
Director
Prelude 6
Director
Prelude 10
Director
Prelude 14
Director
Stately Mansions Did Decree
Director
Coupling
Director
Drawings by Billy and His Friends
In Memory Of
Persian Series #2
Director
Persian Series #3
Director
Persian Series #1
Director
Lovesong 4
Director
Lovesong 5 & 6
Director
Lovesong 3
Director
Persian Series #4
Director
Window
Director
Roman Numeral: I
Director
Persian Series #5
Director
Sketches
Director
Nuptiae
Director of Photography
20 Little Films
Director
Colorado Legend
Editor, Director of Photography, Director, Cinematography
23rd Psalm Branch
Director
"..." Reel 3
Director
The Governor
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 3
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 6
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 1
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 2
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 4
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 5
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 15
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 11
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 19
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 16
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 0 + 10
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 13
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 9
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 18
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 14
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 7
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 8
Director
Arabic Numeral Series 17
Director
23rd Psalm Branch: Part I
Director
Passage Through: A Ritual
Director
Occam's Thread
Director
Cannot Exist
Director
Gift
Director
Cannot Not Exist
Director
Made Manifest
Director
I...
Director
23rd Psalm Branch: Part II
Director, Cinematography, Editor
Roman Numeral: VII
Director
Roman Numeral: IV
Director
Roman Numeral: VIII
Director
Roman Numeral: IX
Director
Roman Numeral: VI
Director
Roman Numeral: V
Director
Roman Numeral: III
Director
Clancy
Director
In Consideration of Pompeii
Director
Christ Mass Sex Dance
Director
The Lion and the Zebra Make God's Raw Jewels
Director
Prelude 15
Director
Prelude 16
Director
Prelude 21
Director
Prelude 22
Director
Prelude 24
Director
Prelude 17
Director
Prelude 19
Director
Prelude 20
Director
Prelude 23
Director
Prelude 18
Director
By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volume Two
Director
By Brakhage: An Anthology, Volume One
Director
The Loom
Director
4A
Director
Short Films 1975
Director
We Hold These
Director
Blossom-Gift/Favor
Director
Micro Garden
Director
Blue Value
Director
Cloud Chamber
Director
Bird
Director
Worm and Web Love
Director
Marilyn's Window
Director
City Streaming
Director
Babylon Series #1
Director
Confession
Director
Babylon Series #2
Director
Flight
Director
Babylon Series #3
Director
Highs
Director
Centre
Director
Rembrandt, Etc., and Jane
Director
Sincerity V
Director
Faustfilm: An Opera
Director
Faust IV
Director
Nightmare Series
Director
Moilsome Toilsome
Director
Faust 3: Candida Albacore
Director
Vision of the Fire Tree
Director
For Life, Against the War
Director
Sexual Saga
Director
Hymn to Her
Director
Sweetgrass
Thanks
Tortured Dust
Director
Alternating Currents
Director
Fireloop
Director
Last Hymn to the Night - Novalis
Director
Very
Director
Night Mulch
Director
Other
Director
The Presence
Director
Trio
Director, Cinematography
Soldiers and Other Cosmic Objects
Director
The Dream, N.Y.C., The Return, The Flower
Director
Sluice
Director
RR
Director
Agnus Dei Kinder Synapse
Director
“He was born, he suffered, he died.”
Director
Sincerity II
Director
Purity and After
Director
Nodes
Director
Dance Shadows by Danelle Helander
Director
Divertimento
Director
Salome
Director
The "Lost" Films
Director
The Female Mystique and Spare Leaves (for Gordon)
Director
Absence
Director
The Fur of Home
Director
"..." Reel 4
Director
Sol
Director
Beautiful Funerals
Director
Cricket Requiem
Director
Duplicity II
Director
Interpolations 1-5
Director
Sincerity IV
Director
Aftermath
Director
Polite Madness
Director
@
Director
Through Wounded Eyes
Director
Sincerity III
Director
Duplicity I
Director
Concrescence
Director
Short Films 1976
Director
Spring Cycle
Director
Two Found Objects of Charles Boultenhouse
Director
Dominion
Director
The Aerodyne
Director
Matins
Director
The Thatch of Night
Director
Paranoia Corridor
Director
Tragoedia
Director
Airs
Director
Sexual Meditation #1: Motel
Director
Earthen Aerie
Director
"..." Reel 1
Director
The Earthsong of the Cricket
Director
"..." Reel 2
Director
Dance
Director
Scenes from Under Childhood
Director
Hell Spit Flexion
Director
Tortured Dust Part 3
Director
Short Films 1975: #10 (Painted Lightning)
Director
Short Films 1975: #9 (Forest Love Scene)
Director
Tortured Dust Part 2
Director
Tortured Dust Part 1
Director
Tortured Dust Part 4
Director
Lovesong 2
Director
Stan's Window & Work in Progress
Director
Cornell's Portrait of June
Director
Black Vision
Director
Blood's Tone
Director
Dog Star Man
Director, Writer, Director of Photography, Editor
Pittsburgh
Cinematography
Derealization
Visual Effects
Songs
Director, Editor, Cinematography, Writer
SB
Director