When I recently saw the movie A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence by Roy Anderson it was a unique experience. Each scene was filmed from a fixed perspective, without any camera movements. What happened in front of the camera often was bizarre and surreal. It isn’t often you see a whole army that lived centuries ago walking into a bar in a modern setting or a movie that shows the life of two salesmen trying to sell comedy items. Although that movie had characters and dialog which regularly returned, its structure was unconventional. A film which makes you look differently at the medium. I didn’t know yet that this movie was the third on in a trilogy, which started with this one, Songs from the Second Floor.
That surreal feeling is present here as well and it also uses (with one exception) a static camera. This movie has more of a story which is weaved through the various sketches. It tells about a furniture salesman who has set fire to his own store, trying to set up something new while he also struggles with his son who has gone crazy from writing poetry. The characters often look unnatural, with pale faces, never making the viewer feel comfortable with them.
The movie breathes an atmosphere of depression, a feeling about the current society and leaves it up to the viewer to explain it. It’s not a movie that might feels very accessible, but stick with it as it’s well worth it. There is a lot of humour, which often is very dark and tragic. Every shot is framed beautifully and by placing and moving the characters is specific way Anderson often manages to surprise. It feels very much the same as “A Pigeon…”, but if you can appreciate that movie, this one is worth checking out as well.
Glad you liked it. Roy Andersson’s trilogy is not for everyone, I connected with the dark humor you mention. I love how these surreal films makes us reflect on our own life and the (sometimes absurd) society we live in.
Exactly, they are strangely hypnotic I think and there are so many moments that stay with you.