From the man that brought you the Cremaster cycle and the woman who brought swan dresses to the public eye - Art superstar couple Matthew Barney and Bjork teamed up in 2005 to make Drawing Restraint 9. Like Barney's Cremaster films, this exists as a part of a whole art installation (#9 of 12). The Drawing Restraint series focus on the concept of athlete as artist. Barney was influenced by Houdini and continues his quest into human body manipulation, also reminiscent of Cremaster. The only cinematic part in the series, Drawing Restraint the film explores Japanese traditions at an extreme-mundane pace.

Barney's passion for petroleum jelly and fetish exploration are here along with elaborate costumes as he uniquely depicts whale hunting, pearl diving and tea ceremonies. Bjork provides the soundtrack. Fans of the Icelandic princess will not be disappointed. Her haunting melodies go hand in hand with Barney's disturbing behavior. Bjork and Barney take center stage also as the film's protagonists. Simply known as the Occidental couple, they are the audience's portal to the strange Eastern ceremonies and fall in love through precise choreography aboard a whaling ship. The ship ultimately swallows the couple when it becomes a giant teacup. Should one need explanation, the making-of documentary, No Restraint, plays along with the feature all weekend.

American Cinemateque Egyptian Theater
6712 Hollywood Blvd.

Thurs. & Fri. Feb. 15/16 Spielberg Theatre
No Restraint (documentary) 7:30 & 9:30pm
2006, 72 min.

Sat.& Sun. Feb. 17/18 Spielberg Theater
No Restraint 5:00 & 9:30pm

Drawing Restraint (feature) 7:00pm
2005, 135 min.

Labels: art, events, film