A highly unconventional film featuring Hollywood stars Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Rampling is challenging traditional cinematic experiences by allowing only one person to view it at a time. Titled 'Sculpt: Eye of the Duck', the project by French conceptual artist Loris Gréaud is currently being screened as part of the Dark Mofo festival in Hobart, Tasmania, where just 90 individuals will have the opportunity to witness its latest iteration.
The current version marks the seventh edit of the film since its debut in 2016 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Each subsequent version has been seen by even fewer people than the initial screening, which fewer than 500 attended. The exclusivity is a deliberate component of the art piece, designed to create a unique and deeply personal encounter for each viewer.
The experience begins long before the film itself, with attendees describing an elaborate, immersive journey. One participant detailed being met by a silent, black-suited driver, given a military-style dog tag, and driven to a theatre. During the car ride, Dafoe's voice narrates a mysterious plot element, setting a disorienting tone that blurs the boundaries between the film's world and the viewer's reality. Upon arrival, a porter inspects the dog tag before granting entry to an almost pitch-black, empty theatre where a bespoke cocktail is served.
The film itself is reported to be a montage of surreal and unsettling imagery, exploring a world where 'moments' of intense emotion are traded like commodities. Dafoe's character is depicted in scenes of sadistic wonder, while Rampling appears in a ghostly costume, her dialogue barely audible over the soundtrack. The narrative is described as largely inscrutable, aiming instead for a visceral and disorienting impact on the viewer's psyche. Elements like a voodoo priestess placing incantations on film rolls and an old man depositing fly larvae on film strips contribute to its bizarre and dreamlike quality.
After the screening, the disorientation continues, with one viewer recounting being handed a USB drive and then having a door closed in their face after attempting to follow a performer. This carefully constructed narrative aims to explore the dichotomy between fiction and reality, making the act of seeing the film an integral part of the artistic statement. The project aligns with Dark Mofo's reputation for offering unique, often challenging, and ephemeral experiences.
Given its highly exclusive and curated nature, 'Sculpt: Eye of the Duck' is not available on any mainstream streaming platforms in the UK, nor is it likely to receive traditional industry recognition such as BAFTA awards due to its experimental format. Its limited accessibility underscores its status as a conceptual art piece rather than a conventional cinematic release.
Source: The Guardian