This is the story of Zeke the Sheik, an aging rhyme-speaking hippie who amassed a 200 foot long, forty foot high pile of compost in a residential section of Los Angeles. Zeke only wanted to create a refuge for lush plants and other living things like earthworms, geese, and an occasional chicken. He wanted to create a place with so much beauty that the world would come and see and be "driven insane with laughter." Then the mean old fire department tried to shut Zeke down, claiming his compost pile was a fire hazard. Next political officials weighed in, saying his compost pile didn't belong in a residential area. Happily, friends and neighbors rushed to support Zeke, and at last report Zeke's compost pile was still growing. This video presents a serio-comic look at Zeke's dilemma. Unfortunately, the production values are no better than a home video in quality, and while Zeke's colorful aspects are abundantly clear, this tale of a modern day Thoreau doesn't go anywhere or have much to say. Not a necessary addition for most libraries. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)
Zeke the Sheik and the Ladder of Matter
(1993) 29 min. $59.95. The Video Project. PPR. Color cover. Vol. 12, Issue 2
Zeke the Sheik and the Ladder of Matter
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.