New Showbiz

You are here:
Presents

Presents

1981

Director

Michael Snow

Runtime

99 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

The apparent vertical scratch in celluloid that opens Presents literally opens into a film within the film. When its figure awakens into a woman in a 'real' unreal set, the slapstick satire of structural film begins. It is not the camera that moves, but the whole set, in this first of three material 'investigations' of camera movement. In the second, the camera literally invades the set; a plexiglass sheet in front of the dolly crushes everything in its sight as it zooms through space. Finally, this monster of formalism pushes through the wall of the set and the film cuts to a series of rapidly edited shots as the camera zigzags over lines of force and moving fields of vision in an approximation of the eye in nature. Snow pushes us into acceptance of present moments of vision, but the single drum beat that coincides with each edit in this elegaic section announces each moment of life's irreversible disappearance.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

3.8/10

Limited

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Limited

The film functions as a formalist investigation of celluloid rather than a character-driven narrative. There is no explicit evidence of LGBTQ+ characters or narratives regarding gender identity.

Gender Representation

Fair

A female figure awakens within a constructed set, serving as a component of a formalist experiment. The camera's mechanical movement disrupts standard objectification, though the subject lacks traditional agency.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Minimal

The work focuses on the materiality of film, sets, and camera movement. There is no mention of a diverse cast or specific racial narratives.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The film rejects traditional Western narrative structures like linear plots or hero's journeys. It prioritizes postmodernist critiques of structured reality through the deconstruction of the cinematic medium.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no evidence within the film's context to suggest the inclusion or depiction of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Strengths

  • Subverts the traditional cinematic gaze through mechanical camera movements that disrupt standard objectification.
  • Challenges mainstream narrative hierarchies by rejecting conventional storytelling structures and the illusion of reality.
  • Aligns with progressive postmodernist thought by prioritizing intellectual subjectivity over established Western narrative conventions.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities or narratives regarding gender identity.
  • Provides no visible racial or ethnic diversity within the cast or narrative focus.
  • Fails to include depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

AI Analysis

Presents is a structuralist experiment that prioritizes the deconstruction of the cinematic medium over the representation of identity. Its contribution to diversity lies in its rebellion against mainstream narrative norms rather than demographic inclusion. The film succeeds in disrupting traditional cinematic hierarchies and the authority of the frame. However, it lacks character-driven intersectional representation, focusing instead on the physical properties of film and camera movement. While the work aligns with progressive postmodernist values by undermining the authority of the cinematic image, it remains a vacuum regarding social identity and visible diversity.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.