New Showbiz

You are here:
One

One

1966

Director

Yoko Ono

Runtime

5 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

Collected as part of the Fluxfilm Anthology (a multi-reel compendium of 37 short films assembled by Fluxus founder and central operator George Maciunas), One captures the lifespan of a single match recorded at 2,000 frames per second using a 16mm high-speed camera. The frame rate is then decelerated to the standard 24fps for presentation. The film emphasizes each gesture, sway and flare of flame as the small pinewood carrier ignites across the landscape of the filmstrip and screen, signalling the drama and poetics of this ”minor” event before the fire is extinguished. One also stands as an unassuming beacon, immortalizing on film the essence of some of Ono’s early concerns as an artist. At the slightest touch of fire, they burst into flame. Strike everywhere. Strike often.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

5.4/10

Fair


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The film lacks any depiction of gender identity, sexual orientation, or interpersonal relationships. As a non-narrative study of a physical process, it remains neutral.

Gender Representation

Fair

While the film contains no human characters, Yoko Ono's directorial presence is significant. Her work disrupts mid-century expectations of female creators by prioritizing conceptual abstraction over patriarchal narrative structures.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The film is an abstract study of light and combustion, rendering it ethnically neutral. However, authorship by an East Asian artist contributes a subtle diversification to the cinematic gaze.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Good

The film aligns with the Fluxus ethos of challenging Western artistic institutions. It elevates a minor event to cinematic drama, promoting radical subjectivity and non-traditional value systems.

Disability Representation

Fair

There is no depiction of physical or neurodivergent disability within the frame. The focus remains strictly on the chemical and physical properties of the match.

Strengths

  • Challenges traditional patriarchal narrative structures through conceptual abstraction.
  • Promotes radical subjectivity by elevating a minor, everyday event to cinematic importance.
  • Diversifies the cinematic gaze through the authorship of an East Asian artist.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks explicit representation of gender identity or sexual orientation.
  • Provides no depiction of physical or neurodivergent disability.
  • Contains no human characters or interpersonal relationships to drive social representation.

AI Analysis

One is a minimalist disruption of traditional cinematic language. By focusing on the microscopic ignition of a match, it eschews human-centric drama in favor of a phenomenological study of time and elemental change. While the film does not engage in overt identity politics due to its non-human subject matter, its existence as conceptual art challenges the hegemony of traditional storytelling. It dismantles the hierarchy of what is considered 'important' in visual media. The work's impact is found in its subversion of mid-century norms, both through its non-traditional narrative architecture and the presence of a female avant-garde director.

How are these scores produced? →

Similar Movies

Movie poster for Intervals

Intervals

1973

No user ratings available yet
Diversity score: 5.1 out of 10

Tchaïka

1994

No user ratings available yet
Diversity score: 5.5 out of 10
Movie poster for Zimbelism

Zimbelism

2016

No user ratings available yet
No diversity score available

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.