By the Lake (1994)

By the Lake

1994

Documentary Animation

Synopsis

Bokanowski returns to the complex - and mind-bending - optical array of pinholes, mirrors, prisms, and refractive substrates of his earlier film, La Plage to create the whimsical and playful Au bord du lac. The film is composed of mundane, everyday scenes of recreation and leisure on an idyllic, sunny day at a park that overlooks a lake - rowing a boat, playing a game of volleyball, rollerskating, bicycling, reading a newspaper, sunbathing, riding on horseback, or strolling on the promenade - shot through optical distortions to create fractured and knotted images that resemble embellished, gothic fairytale illustrations or appear to resolve into morphing, geometric patterns of fluid motion. Evoking the vibrant colors and sun-soaked palette of an invigorated Vincent van Gogh in Arles, Bokanowski transforms the quotidian into an infinitely mesmerizing dynamic kaleidoscope of shape-shifting textures and self-reconstituting objects of organic, abstract art.

Credits

Director

Patrick Bokanowski

Crew

François Poirier (Cinematography)

Vincent Tamisier (Cinematography)

Christian Dutac (Color Timer)

Thierry Garrel (Executive Producer)

Michèle Bokanowski (Music)

Joëlle Léandre (Musician)

Edwin Baily (Producer)

Patrick Bokanowski (Screenplay)