Lines: Vertical (1960)
An experiment in pure design by film artists Norman McLaren and Evelyn Lambart. Lines, ruled directly on film, move with precision and grace against a background of changing colors, in response to music specially composed for the films.
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The Age of Commercialism
Expected more
Go in cold, and you're likely to emerge with your blood boiling. This has to be seen to be believed.
By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.
Norman McLaren offers one of his abstract pieces of animation, working in collaboration with Evelyn Lambart with some some electronic music by Maurice Blackburn. It consists of a series of vertical lines which wander from the right to the left and back again, growing more numerous as they pass over each other over a monochrome background which changes color.They suggest the strings of a musical instrument, if they suggest anything... or perhaps they suggest nothing. It's a simple contemplative abstract, a purely experimental movie, hypnotic and meditative in its evolutions. For the two minutes that it lasts, it's fascinating.... and then it's gone.
"Lines: Vertical" is the counterpart to Norman McLaren's "Lines: Horizontal" and again he worked together with BAFTA Award nominee Evelyn Lambart. So yeah what is there to say. You will see white vertical lines in here from start to finish, for 6 minutes. The background changes in color on a couple occasions and you hear a soothing tune. this film is certainly not for everybody and I am afraid that this does also include myself. I found it a fairly boring watch, but if you like experimental films, then you may very well enjoy this one. I have seen several way worse experimental movies. Nonetheless overall I did not find this a satisfying watch and give it a thumbs down. Not recommended.