A Day full of Variety

A little more than a day with different things is the interim climax of a series of Super-8 films which span a number of years. The author is simultaneously the central, and often only, protagonist in the films. The shooting process which is almost completely automatic allows, however, the camera to live its own (mechanical) life. Thus Sackl's film develops as a dialogue between human agent and mechanical apparatus, between camera and observed body. A little more than a day, which compresses about 24 hours into a few minutes, was shot, like most of Sackl's films in a "black cube" – an "invisible" and almost completely empty home studio. This means that from the beginning of the film a fundamental distancing occurs especially with respect to the (supposedly) personal authenticity. Everyday situations and basic actions (e.g. eating, sleeping) alternate with elements which are staged performances. Here the double structure of author/actor is mirrored in that of the active/passive protagonist. In both cases construction and calculation is emphasised. What is interesting here – the yield of the film, if you will – is the study of movement which is sometimes chaotic and sometimes orderly. Sackl's choreography, which he apparently weaves into his into his daily routines without any effort, are improvised. Even so, they are precisely executed little robot ballets in which he revels within the parameters of single frame techniques and that with virtuosity. The self-multiplying body, in quivering, symmetrical tableaux casts a spell on the viewer to the same degree that its transformation into a maschine. (Thomas Korschil) A person on a couch. Reading. Entertaining visitors. Sleeping etc. A fixed camera which shoots a single frame every five seconds for 24 hours watches. The continuous observation is sometimes interrupted by direct interaction of the body with the camera. (Albert Sackl)