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Free Radicals
Free Radicals
7.9
/10
2,256 Ratings

FREE RADICALS

Directed by Len Lye
United States, New Zealand, 1958
Animation, Avant-Garde, Short

Synopsis

Begun in 1958 and completed in 1979, Len Lye made this animated short by directly scratching the film stock using a variety of scribers, from dental tools to an ancient Native American arrowhead. The resulting figures of motion are set to traditional African music by the Baguirmi tribe.

Synopsis

Begun in 1958 and completed in 1979, Len Lye made this animated short by directly scratching the film stock using a variety of scribers, from dental tools to an ancient Native American arrowhead. The resulting figures of motion are set to traditional African music by the Baguirmi tribe.

Our take

Trippy, hypnotic, semi-stressful and yet still full of flair, this experimental short depicts the genesis and movement of its music’s propulsive rhythm, percussion building in momentum as our image alternately zigs and zags. You’ll never want it to end!