Our Lady of the Sphere (1972, Larry Jordan)

Our Lady of the Sphere has two definite narratives. Jordan’s cut-up animation seemingly defies narrative, as eggs are landing on the moon, which then grows flowers, but I found two definite ones.

The first has to do with a falling child. Jordan opens Sphere with the child falling, later showing the fall begin (and end). The first half of Sphere, moving through time and space, seems narrative free until the child reappears. Once he or she does, Sphere‘s structure becomes much more recognizable.

There’s a circus and airship sequence, which is particularly beautiful, if relatively free of connection to the rest of the short.

Jordan ends it with the titular Lady and an inference she’s trying to find her sister (or a female friend), who has been lost.

Of course, everyone might read something different in Sphere. Jordan’s outstanding animation is its own thing; interpretations are just for fun.

2/3Recommended

CREDITS

Directed by Larry Jordan.


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Duo Concertantes (1964, Larry Jordan)

What do penguins and bees have in common? They both show up in Larry Jordan’s transfixing collage animation Duo Concertantes. I know, they’re also both animals too.

I’ve never seen any Jordan before and Concertantes might not be the best place to start, but it’s a phenomenal nine minutes. There’s practically a narrative for the first half, with one Victorian gentleman recurring through the scenes. These little prickly pods move through England, sometimes turning into butterflies, sometimes into luminescent bulbs. Set to some lovely classical music (probably one of the many pieces titled Dos Concertantes, but I don’t think the Stravinsky), the film is transcendent.

The most amazing moment is a small one. An astronomer looks into his telescope and the moon increases in size above him. It’s a stunning way of bringing the viewer in.

One minor complaint–near the end, it almost gets too tranquil and too hallucinatory.

3/3Highly Recommended

CREDITS

Animated and directed by Larry Jordan.


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