the time is now. I

What is alternative living? The films, photos and sculptures of Heidrun Holzfeind are concerned with the interrelationship of life and art, a concern she demonstrates through carefully constellated scenes that integrate specific locations, tools and architecture. Both parts of the time is now. are dedicated to the Japanese improvisation/noise duo IRO. Toshio und Shizuko Orimo had started out performing wild art punk. But after the Chernobyl catastrophe of 1986, they began using acoustic instruments to make "energy-free" music which they call "Punk Kagura" – in reference to Kagura, a ritual dance tradition and music for the gods.

Holzfeind initially approaches the desired balance between animism and shamanism in a ritualistically animated, musically structured, architectural film segment, in part processed using color filters. It concentrates on a building complex by Takamasa Yosizaka – undertaken as a critique of civilization by the architect. Holzfeind combines the lush green of its surrounding environment as a contrast to the city of Tokyo. The second part of the first film fuses an improvised performance of piano, contrabass and recitative with documentary footage of street protests in opposition to US American military facilities, as well as IRO´s last exorcism-like punk concert in the aftermath of their musecological transformation in 1987. The cross-fading of audio layers overpowers apparent ruptures, enforcing a continuum of uncompromising expressivity. (Thomas Edlinger)

Translation: Eve Heller

Orig. Title
the time is now. I
Year
2019
Countries
Japan, Austria, Sweden
Duration
20 min
Category
Experimental, Documentary
Orig. Language
japanese
Subtitles
English
Downloads
Credits
Director
Heidrun Holzfeind
Concept & Realization
Heidrun Holzfeind
Cinematography
Hiroko Maruyama, Kazuhiro Shirao, Masayuki Yonaha, Heidrun Holzfeind
Editing
Heidrun Holzfeind
Sound
IRO / Toshio und Shizuko Orimo
sound engineering
Taku Unami
Production
Norie Fukuda
Coordinator
Norie Fukuda
Translation
Norie Fukuda
Supported by
Film i Västerbotten Fund, Land Kärnten, Secession Wien
Available Formats
DCP 2K flat
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Sound Format
stereo
Frame Rate
25 fps
Color Format
colour
Digital File (prores, h264)
Festivals (Selection)
2019
Lissabon - Architecture Film Festival
Berwick - Film & Media Art Festival
2020
Victoria - Antimatter Underground Film Festival
Graz - Diagonale, Festival des österreichischen Films
Montréal - Festival International du Film sur l'Art