Tusalava (1929) User Reviews

There's Something There

[Hitchcoc · 6/10 · 28 July 2019]

I suppose someone will tell me that I just don't know enough about film to be critical of this 1929 feature. That may be true, but if that's the case for most viewers, then there is something to prove. There are moving black and white images and an odd sound track. Much is focused on a chain of circular images that just move up and down. The other is more random and at the conclusion presents some interest. But what was the point.

Weak early career effort

[Horst_In_Translation · 2/10 · 25 September 2015]

"Tusalava" is a 10-minute black-and-white animated short film from over 85 years ago. The director is Len lye who is fairly known for his experimental movies among film connoisseurs. However, here I must say that i was not impressed at all. There are two creatures in this film, one to the left, another to the right and they seem to have some special bond or connection which we see as the film goes on and they keep exchanging stuff, changing their form. Maybe Lye simply lacked experience here. it was his first film and he wasn't even 30. The only reason which makes this somewhat interesting is to see what other films were made when this came out. Completely different ones. Chaplin's short silent films were over and the Stooges weren't famous yet. Maybe you could best describe it as the "Our Gang" era. Watch one of these instead. I still have no idea what a "Tusalava" is, but this film named after one is certainly not a worthy watch.

The wonder and terror of organic forms.

[snaunton · 10/10 · 8 December 2001]

This astonishing film, with its screen split between positive and negative (and which is which?), evolves primaeval single-celled nuclear forms into living, rhythmic chains of existence and then, beyond, into creatures of tribal consciousness, both ancient and utterly contemporary. This film captures the mutability of existence, the ambiguity between fertile penetration and aggression, absorption and synthesis. To watch it is an exquisite experience.