Treasures IV: American Avant Garde Film—1947-1986

Simply put, the 26 films presented in this impeccable two-disc set would almost certainly vanish into archival obscurity if not preserved here in this essential DVD release. As Martin Scorsese explains in his foreword for the accompanying booklet, “the American avant-garde comprises a stunning alternate history of cinema—an entirely different set of possibilities, another world of images and sounds.” Which is a perfect summation of what Treasures IV: American Avant Garde Film—1947-1986 offers: a mind-boggling rebuttal to the conventions of traditional narrative filmmaking, with bold experiments ranging from abstract animation and image manipulation (e.g. Harry Smith's Film No. 3: Interwoven, from 1947-49) to genre-busting documentary (Bruce Baillie's Here I Am, 1962). While it doesn't pretend to be all-inclusive, this fourth DVD set in the Treasures From the American Film Archives series is magnificently representative, featuring selections chosen by an esteemed panel of experts. Given the “avant-garde” label, these films will not be for every taste, but all are works of art springing directly from the zeitgeist of their time. As such, the pieces are also historical records of artistic and technological innovation, telling stories through unconventional means (as in Christopher Maclaine's apocalyptic vision of The End, from 1953) or evoking a specific frame of mind or audiovisual effect (such as Pat O'Neill's 1967 film 7362). Each film is presented either silent or with original monaural soundtracks, while a few feature new music by John Zorn. All of the films and filmmakers are well-served by easy-to-navigate menus, onscreen program notes, and detailed background information in the booklet. Highly recommended. (J. Shannon)