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Movie

Sums & Differences

1978 · 8 min

A hypnotic, accelerating experiment where sound and image mutate together, demanding close attention as patterns build to a pulsing climax.

Overview
The basis of this “sound/image construct,” recorded in real time, are three black-and-white still images: a keyboard, a flute, and an African drum. These motifs are altered through digitalization, solarization, and interframe switching. As they alternate, the images are accompanied acoustically by simple tonal routines of the instruments shown – little sequences of sound on the keyboard, some drum beats, a brief trill of the flute. The solarization effect of the images changes with the sounds. The work intensifies as it progresses, and images and sounds succeed one another ever more rapidly until a melody of the three instruments emerges. The frequency of the video images continues to increase, with the result that the images pulsate ever more quickly until they gradually overlay one another, producing a cinematographic effect through interferences. Parallel to this, the audio frequency of the melody rises until fundamental tones form, lasting several seconds.

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In the UKNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.
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How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
  • eeriestrength 2 of 3
  • tensestrength 2 of 3
  • absurdstrength 1 of 3
Pacing
brisk, 3 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention
demanding, 4 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes
  • music
  • art
  • technology
Places
None
Era
contemporary
Audience
adult
Form
  • animated
Content intensity
  • Gore none
  • Language none
  • Violence none
  • Sex none
All scales, 0 to 10
Scales, 0 to 10
ScaleValue0 to 10
Action2
Horror2
Humour1
Realism2
Romance0
Tension5
Darkness3
Complexity8
Emotional weight3

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Where to watch in the UK

No UK streaming, rental or purchase options are known.

Streaming data from JustWatch.TMDB

Details

Directed by
Gary Hill
Runtime
8 min

TMDB