Cosmodrome

Cosmodrome (= Launch pad for space rocket) is a film about the connection between cinema and the cosmos. A revolving globe, the distribution logo of the Universal Film Studio reveals to the viewer an act of “initiation” which takes place in the cosmos - a key image located somewhere between cinema architecture and cinematic space.

Two ideas thread their way through Schönwiese’'s film at the same time. The first follows the thread of order, of making order, the structure and measurement of space and the stategic geometries that connect to the idea of the midpoint and where it is simultaneously proposed to erect the subject and body above that middle.Deriving from this, the first part of the film has the form of a musical round which circles the idea of the middle (and its deconstruction) and continuously re-defines the structural relationship between cinema, observatory, aeroplane, church and space rocket - as an applied method to both observe and imagine the world as seen from a (moving) point. A constant motif in this rondo is the Universal Pictures company logo, used as an identity-inducing and pathetic symbol of this universal, centred idea of a world encircling arena.

The second idea explores Cicero’s “"Dream of Scipio"” (which serves the film as motto) and the concept of the harmony of the spheres - especially those inaudible (for the human ear) background noises caused by the rotation of the world - as an atmosphere of overpowering sensual stimulation. It is the paradoxical, and simultaneously tragic attempt to explore the very abyss which is not accessable to the light of the projector. Without doubt Schönwiese can only show these bodies, when they are disassociated from their individual motivation, blunt and in a trance, broken on the sound of the music, irrational, tapping in the dark. (Michael Palm)

Trailer
Orig. Title
Cosmodrom
Year
1995
Country
Austria
Duration
30 min
Category
Avantgarde/Arts
Orig. Language
German
Subtitles
English
Downloads
Cosmodrome (Image)
Cosmodrome (Image)
Cosmodrome (Image)
Credits
Director
Fridolin Schönwiese
Script
Fridolin Schönwiese
Cinematography
Johannes Hammel
Music
Heinrich Pichler, Michael Moser, Wolfgang Poor
Editing
Michael Palm
Production
Fridolin Schönwiese
Available Formats
16 mm (Distribution Copy)
Aspect Ratio
1:1,37
Sound Format
mono
Frame Rate
24 fps
DCP 2K flat (Distribution Copy)
Aspect Ratio
1:1,85
Sound Format
stereo
Frame Rate
25 fps
Festivals (Selection)
1995
Graz - film+arc.
Wien - Viennale - Int. Filmfestwochen
Salzburg - Diagonale - Festival des Österreichischen Films
1996
Madrid - ARCO - Semana de Cine Experimental
Melbourne - Int. Film Festival
Humboldt - Int. Film Festival
Denver - Int. Film Festival
Triest - Alpe Adria Cinema - Film Festival
Edinburgh - Fringe Film and Video Festival
Triest - Alpe Adria Cinema - Film Festival
1997
Onion City - Film Festival Chicago
Ann Arbor - Film Festival
Stuttgart - Filmwinter, Expanded Media Festival