- Actors: Jonas Mekas, Julia Judge, John Spaceley, Tom Walker, Ted Milton
- Directors: Nicolas Humbert, Werner Penzel
- Writers: Nicolas Humbert, Werner Penzel
- Producers: Res Balzli
- Language English, German
- Subtitles: French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese
- Region: All Regions
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: Exempt
- Studio: Winter & Winter
- DVD Release Date: 9 Jun 2003
- Run Time: 90 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00008N5QT
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 70,047 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Fred Frith could have been a guitar hero for hire, if he'd wanted to be. His stint in Henry Cow, plus his first and nonpareil solo album 'Guitar Solos', demonstrated that he had the chops and the imagination to be someone who flashy producers called up to add heartfelt fuzz solos to any given song. Luckily for us listeners, and for the community of improvising players in general, he chose a wider role as strolling guitar player/composer/ensemble man/activist. Frith is easily the most politically aware guitar virtuoso of his generation (a generation which includes Clapton, Beck, Page, Fripp and Thompson, in case you were wondering) and he's unusual in that his engagement with world music and his general willingness to get involved with the people he plays with has not only broadened but also deepened his skill.
This film is already nearly 20 years old and the remarkable thing about it is that it got made at all. The late 1980s were far from a great time for the kind of music documented herein; the music press were fascinated with the pop charts, and stuff like this didn't get a look in, unless you were part of the small minority looking out for it. I was part of that small minority, and I heard about this film long before I got to watch it.
I'm guessing that it's the internet and its capacity to market the most obscure and un-mainstream kinds of music that made a DVD re-release of this film profitable. All power to them. It's a remarkable portrait of a working musician, showing Frith in a variety of situations, from bandleader to impromptu improviser to soloist to interviewee, with his rather strange neutral English accent (it's as if he's spent a lot of time speaking French) punctuated by his engaging high-pitched cackle.
Fred Frith is one of the rockingest and most creative musicians England has produced in the last forty years. He ought to be a national treasure, even if he's drawn more audible inspiration from blues and Eastern European music than he has from English folk, which sounds to these ears like it is the case. He still plays, still rocks, still composes and creates and mangles his guitar like nobody else. I raise a glass to him, to the makers of this film, and to whoever thought it a good idea to bring the thing out again on DVD. All discerning music fans should watch it.
This film is already nearly 20 years old and the remarkable thing about it is that it got made at all. The late 1980s were far from a great time for the kind of music documented herein; the music press were fascinated with the pop charts, and stuff like this didn't get a look in, unless you were part of the small minority looking out for it. I was part of that small minority, and I heard about this film long before I got to watch it.
I'm guessing that it's the internet and its capacity to market the most obscure and un-mainstream kinds of music that made a DVD re-release of this film profitable. All power to them. It's a remarkable portrait of a working musician, showing Frith in a variety of situations, from bandleader to impromptu improviser to soloist to interviewee, with his rather strange neutral English accent (it's as if he's spent a lot of time speaking French) punctuated by his engaging high-pitched cackle.
Fred Frith is one of the rockingest and most creative musicians England has produced in the last forty years. He ought to be a national treasure, even if he's drawn more audible inspiration from blues and Eastern European music than he has from English folk, which sounds to these ears like it is the case. He still plays, still rocks, still composes and creates and mangles his guitar like nobody else. I raise a glass to him, to the makers of this film, and to whoever thought it a good idea to bring the thing out again on DVD. All discerning music fans should watch it.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Avant-garde documentary presenting the musical genious of Fred Frith,
like no other you might have seen...
Watch at any cost...
like no other you might have seen...
Watch at any cost...
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
6 reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
For Frith Fans -- Or Not
12 Dec 2003
Format:DVD
Frith has always been such a musical chameleon -- fitting into such diverse groups as Henry Cow, Skeleton Crew, Massacre, Looping Home Orchestra and his own Guitar Quartet, to name just a few -- that it's been hard to get a bead on exactly who he is. This film goes a long way toward introducing him to his fans.
It's also likely to make him many new fans, as his quiet genius is evident. Humbert & Penzel's camera work tends to improvise and experiment almost as much as Frith's guitar & violin, with unattached scenes, odd transitions, rough edits and of course the gorgeous, very noir black & white. It's arty without becoming too pretentious, and has some really lovely moments when Fred's onscreen.
I just wish it was in stereo, and about twice as long. You'll want to play the SATB CD right afterwards.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
One of the greatest films about music ever made
24 Jun 2009
Format:DVD
I first saw this film in 1995 in a squat in Berlin. My friend and I went back and watched it again the next night. Simply put, this is a beautiful movie about art. More specifically, it is a glowing example of what avant-garde improv music is and can be, and what community based around art and performance can become. Gorgeously filmed. Just stunning and recommended for anyone at all who is interested in art and the world, even if you have never even heard of Fred Frith.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
small world
17 Jun 2005
Format:DVD
where are the Frith fans? well, here's one!
A new online acquaintance in Japan just posted a link to a Japanese site for Japanese experimental/improvisational artists. He specifically suggested we check out Haco. I really enjoyed what I found, and replied to inquire if my firend had ever heard Fred Frith. Then I went back to Haco's site and discovered she had played piano in this film and was on the soundtrack CD!
Ha!
I hadn't listened for a long time. Saw the film years ago, it was wonderful. Also found out from Haco's page that the film was on DVD.
And here I am, ordering it and suggesting you do the same if you have any idea of who Fred Frith is and like him.
A new online acquaintance in Japan just posted a link to a Japanese site for Japanese experimental/improvisational artists. He specifically suggested we check out Haco. I really enjoyed what I found, and replied to inquire if my firend had ever heard Fred Frith. Then I went back to Haco's site and discovered she had played piano in this film and was on the soundtrack CD!
Ha!
I hadn't listened for a long time. Saw the film years ago, it was wonderful. Also found out from Haco's page that the film was on DVD.
And here I am, ordering it and suggesting you do the same if you have any idea of who Fred Frith is and like him.
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