Wavelength

Synopsis

Wavelength, directed by Hollis Frampton in 1967, is a seminal experimental short film that unfolds as a 45-minute exploration of perception and time. The film consists primarily of a slow zoom across a room, revealing subtle changes in light, sound, and images that challenge traditional narrative structures. It is celebrated as a landmark of avant-garde cinema, emphasizing the mechanics of film itself and inviting viewers to engage with the medium in a new way. Wavelength transcends conventional storytelling, prompting introspection about the nature of observation and the passage of time within a confined space.

Cast

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  Hollis Frampton

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  Amy Taubin

• Lyne Grossman

• Naoto Nakazawa

• Roswell Rudd

• 

  Joyce Wieland

Reviews

Critical reception of Wavelength has been notably divided, reflecting its status as a challenging and unconventional work. On IMDb, the film holds a rating of 5.4/10, demonstrating a moderate appreciation often seen in niche art circles rather than mainstream audiences. Critics have lauded the film for its innovative approach to cinematic form; The Criterion Collection refers to it as "a profound meditation on film and time, inviting viewers to rethink their relationship with the medium." Similarly, film scholar P. Adams Sitney praised Wavelength as "a foundational work of structural film that reshaped experimental cinema." However, some viewers find the slow zoom and minimal narrative difficult to engage with, describing the experience as "potentially tedious" and "abstract to the point of alienation." Rotten Tomatoes does not have a consensus score due to the film’s rarity and experimental nature, but among experimental film enthusiasts, it enjoys a reputation as a classic. Overall, Wavelength is revered for its intellectual and aesthetic significance, though it remains a polarizing experience that is best appreciated by audiences open to avant-garde cinema.

See also

The Shawshank Redemption

Joker

Titanic

Parasite