For all the Maybes and the Don't-Knows
May 20, 2008 9:14 PM   Subscribe

F R DOUBLE E D - D O M spells FREEDOM [Youtube, perhaps NSFW]. In 1967, photographer William Klein created what is possibly the most surreal cinematic political satire imaginable: Mr. Freedom. Featuring production design outlandish enough to later inspire Beck and Pizzicato Five, the film went on to bewilder French critics and tank at the box office. Today, Criterion makes Mr. Freedom available on DVD for the first time in America as part of the strange and wonderful box set, The Delirious Fictions of William Klein.
posted by eschatfische (12 comments total) 12 users marked this as a favorite
 
From the description it sounds like "Team America: World Police" except not as good and without the marionettes, and less good natured.
posted by Class Goat at 9:28 PM on May 20, 2008


Cine-licious. !
Hey, that's not Dominic West??
But John Abbey. uncanny ...
posted by celerystick at 9:30 PM on May 20, 2008


The Gainsbourg soundtrack is really, really good (never saw the film myself though).
posted by kush at 9:37 PM on May 20, 2008


Actually, that spells Freeddom, the horrible Soviet knock-off.
posted by sonic meat machine at 10:08 PM on May 20, 2008


That Pizzicato Five link sounds a whole lot like Stereolab. Just saying.
posted by waxboy at 10:28 PM on May 20, 2008


I wonder if this inspired Pro Thunderball player Steve Youngblood and his nemesis Silky Slim.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:04 PM on May 20, 2008


I have seen this movie and would like to comment.
posted by Henry C. Mabuse at 11:28 PM on May 20, 2008


In 2002 I was dating a Gal who lived in Paris, and we'd bounce back and forth - one weekend in London, the next in Paris. Naturally we went to a lot of parties in Paris.

A fashion designer by trade, most of the parties she took me to happened in squats or small galleries. This movie was played a lot, sound off, at many of these parties. I have to admit far too often I'd get lost in the video and forget the party. We also saw most of this movie in a single sitting at a William Klein retrospective we went to in Paris.

The segments I saw were very, very entertaining, even without sound, and definitely over the top in places.

Thanks for posting - might just grab a copy!

Also don't judge Klein's artistic output by this movie. I've been to a couple showings of his work and his photography is absolutely stunning.
posted by Mutant at 3:45 AM on May 21, 2008


This movie looks totally awesome and hilarious and way better than that marionette movie. I am very excited to see it and am happy to have been introduced to it and know that it's now out on DVD. thanks!
posted by SmileyChewtrain at 5:16 AM on May 21, 2008


wow, great find!
posted by pantufla at 6:47 AM on May 21, 2008


That Pizzicato Five link sounds a whole lot like Stereolab. Just saying.

Well, they were contemporaries of sorts, both drawing influence from 60's pop & Esquivel records. (The song in the video is from 1996 or 97, btw) P5 took the more kitschy route, whereas Stereolab mixed in Faust and Neu!-styled drones. So I don't think there was any emulation going on in the P5->Stereolab direction.
posted by Dr-Baa at 6:50 AM on May 21, 2008


My video store owner buddy was raving about this to me yesterday while reading details from Criterion site and I just looked at him with a blank stare. Then I watched the clip. Ok - sign me up - this looks like a treat!
posted by mctsonic at 7:08 AM on May 21, 2008


« Older Annoying Software : A Rogue's Gallery.   |   Matt Furie Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments