The Raft
ACMI, Melbourne, 16/11/2010
Status: Behind by 10 films
If Reviewdle had rules, I probably wouldn’t be allowed to post about The Raft. But it doesn’t and I have two very good reasons for talking about it:
1. It’s November, I’m 10 films behind and I need all the help I can get
2. It’s a really, really good film
The Raft is an extraordinary 10 minute art installation by Bill Viola, one of the world's greatest and best video artists.
About 15 people or so stand around as if, perhaps, waiting for a train. They mill around a little bit and look annoyed when they are touched by another person. Suddenly, they are shot at from both sides with huge sprays of water that knock them over and all around. Then the water cannons stop. That’s it, that’s all that happens. It’s shot in one take and in slo-mo. And it’s amazingly beautiful.
It’s screening on a loop at ACMI’s gallery 2, for free until the end of February 2011 (check the website for opening times). Check it out.
