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Glossary of Broken Dreams
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Wikipedia article
'Glossary of Broken Dreams' is a 2018 Austrian/American documentary film directed by Johannes Grenzfurthner. The essayistic feature film tries to present an overview of political concepts such as freedom, privacy, identity, resistance, etc.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFSigTAQTgI Official trailer posted by monochrom on YouTube]
Grenzfurthner calls his project an "ideotaining cinematic revue" about political ideas he considers important. Grenzfurthner cites frustration[https://futurezone.at/digital-life/monochrom-digitales-politisieren-erlebt-eine-renaissance/400006208 futurezone, "Digitales Politisieren erlebt eine Renaissance"; March 15, 2018] about the current level of political debate as a primary influence for making the film. He couldn't tolerate "ignorant and topically abusive comments on the 'Internet' anymore." So he teamed up with writer and activist Ishan Raval to "explain, re-evaluate, and sometimes sacrifice political golden calves of discourse."[http://www.diagonale.at/films-a-z/?ftopic=finfo&fid=8720 Glossary of Broken Dreams at Diagonale Film Festival]
The film features performances by Amber Benson, Max Grodenchik, Jason Scott Sadofsky and others.
The film was produced by art group monochrom.
Concept
Johannes Grenzfurthner, who defines himself as a 'lumpennerd' in the film's intro, functions as a storyteller and host who guides the viewer through the narrative. 'Glossary of Broken Dreams' does not make use of classic documentary-style interviews and aesthetics. Instead, the film presents different political and philosophical concepts in the form of short films and essayistic chapters featuring fictional characters. These bizarre and exaggerated characters[https://www.zebrabutter.net/der-film-glossary-of-broken-dreams-oder-im-schlachthaus-zum-goldenen-kalb.html Zebrabutter: "Der Film Glossary of Broken Dreams oder: Im Schlachthaus Zum Goldenen Kalb"; April 25, 2018] are performed by actors, voice performers and musicians (for example FM4's Hannes Duscher and Roland Gratzer[http://www.monochrom.at/info-monochrom/fm4-morningshow--6maerz2018--25jahremonochrom.mp3 FM4, Morningshow, interview about 25 years of art group monochrom]). The film can be seen in the tradition of reflexive documentary films and performative documentary films.[https://www.zebrabutter.net/der-film-glossary-of-broken-dreams-oder-im-schlachthaus-zum-goldenen-kalb.html Zebrabutter: "Der Film Glossary of Broken Dreams oder: Im Schlachthaus Zum Goldenen Kalb"; April 25, 2018]
In an interview with 'Film Threat', Grenzfurthner describes his project as follows:
It's a peculiar film for nerds of a peculiar set of interests, but at the same time it's talking about topics that are so goddamn important that more people should know about it. I guess that's why I made it. No idea if there is even a target audience for it, but one can try. There is a lot to process. And cat meme drunk masses will probably not even scratch the surface. But my idea was: better to challenge the audience than to dumb it down.[http://filmthreat.com/reviews/glossary-of-broken-dreams/ Film Threat, "Glossary of Broken Dreams"; March 28, 2018]
The film incorporates art and illustrations by Bonni Rambatan,[https://medium.com/naobun-blog/our-four-amazing-achievements-of-2017-e7a4bb92eb05 Bonni Rambatan, NaoBun blog: "Our four amazing achievements of 2017"; December 31, 2017] Matt J. Frith, James Brothwell, Clemens Kindermann, Stevyn Prothero and Steve Reeder in a variety of different cinematic styles. The film thus works as a fast-paced collage, utilizing a singer-songwriter duo, puppet shows, LucasArts-style pixel animation, Japanese anime, live action sequences and stock footage.[http://theindependentcritic.com/glossary_of_broken_dreams The Independent Critic, "Glossary of Broken Dreams" Gets Set for North American Premiere in Bernieland"; April 1, 2018][https://www.indieshortsmag.com/reviews/documentary/2018/04/glossary-of-broken-dreams-is-the-sad-reality-of-todays-internet-generation/ Indie Shorts Mag, "Glossary of Broken Dreams Is The Sad Reality Of Todays Internet Generation"; April 11, 2018]
'Glossary of Broken Dreams' can be considered a loose follow-up of Grenzfurthner's first documentary feature 'Traceroute', but expanding his critique of capitalist (nerd) culture.[http://www.monochrom.at/info-monochrom/fm4-morningshow--6maerz2018--25jahremonochrom.mp3 FM4, Morningshow, interview about 25 years of art group monochrom]
Austrian and German media personalities such as Stefanie Sargnagel, Gerald Votava, Peter Hrmanseder, Katharina Stemberger and Jolyne Schlien Schrmann make cameo appearances in the film.[https://www.zebrabutter.net/der-film-glossary-of-broken-dreams-oder-im-schlachthaus-zum-goldenen-kalb.html Zebrabutter: "Der Film Glossary of Broken Dreams oder: Im Schlachthaus Zum Goldenen Kalb"; April 25, 2018]
Chapters
'Capitalism/Market/Freedom'
'With Stuart Freeman (as Brian Ewok) and Conny Lee (as Madame Juju)'
An introduction to the basic ruleset of capitalist society and its historical formation.
'Competition'
'With Harald Homolka List (as Hans Platzgaumer) and Bronwynn Mertz-Penzinger (as Platzgaumer's Cerebral Cortex)'
An analysis of the pros and cons of competitive systems (like capitalism and biological evolution).
'Accumulation'
'With Johannes Grenzfurthner (as Doktor Ullmaier) and Alexander E. Fennon (as bank clerk)'
This section demonstrates accumulation of capital in an ironic way by squandering 50 euros in a money exchange office.
'Resistance/Activism'
'With Johannes Grenzfurthner (as Frau Schlammpeitzinger) and Robert Stachel (as Waiter Walter Peckinpah)'
A story about the ongoing shift in Western societies from a disciplinary society to a society of control and how this affects subversion in art, politics and activism.
'The Media'
'With Amber Benson (as Pfefferkarree McCormick) and Michael J. Epstein (as DeForest Schbeibi)'
An analysis of the function of media in liberal societies (including freedom of speech, fake news and other concepts)
'Privacy/Data'
'With Achmed Abdel-Salam (as Modern Subject) and Jim Libby (as Information Gaze)'
This section delves into the co-evolution of privacy as a social value and the bourgeois economy, and critiques the current emphasis on privacy as failing to address underlying dominations in society. It introduces the idea, explored later in the film ("The Left"), of how computation and information could be liberatory under different property relations.
'Nature Vs Nurture'
'With David Fine (as Pansexual German Paratrooper)'
This story of a chimpanzee debates social conditioning.
'Politics/Identity'
'With Andrea Nitsche (as Dr. Bulletpoint von Sganarelle) and Michael Smulik (as Politics)'
A critique of the preponderance of politics today, predicated on identity, in contrast to a universalist approach to politics.
'Democracy/Social Democracy'
'With Jeff Ricketts (as President dem von Horvath), Max Grodnchik (as Biological Male) and Kudra Owens (as Biological Female'
The section questions the viability of social democracy in a globalized and financialized post-Fordist economy.
'The Left'
'With Martin Auer (as Professor Alain Xavior Schnrlsamt), Johannes Grenzfurthner (as Harnulf Rohrkrepierer), David Dempsey (as Sven Shitpornson), Anna Behne (as Lady Unsquaredance), Jason Scott Sadofsky (as Billy Bob Turingengine) and Franz Ablinger (as Sailor Dieselfink)'
Looking at the Left's inability to think or move past twentieth-century tactics, affects and campaigns, this section questions, ultimately, whether the correct course of action today might just be to give up on the Left, and try something better, more attuned to the possibilities and needs of the times.
Production
Process
The basic script was written by Johannes Grenzfurthner and Ishan Raval, supported by language consultant Chris S. Sims.
Due to the fast production process, the different chapters were written while other parts were already being shot and edited. Final decisions about length and content were made in the editing room.
On the basis of [the theoretical texts], I went on to develop the characters and the plot of the movie and started filming with the actors. At the same time, I was cutting scenes that were finished and started to put the movie timeline together. Everything was happening simultaneously. Compiling, writing, filming, cutting. And sometimes not even in this order. It felt like creating a jigsaw puzzle and trying to solve it at the same time. But in a short time the production took about 5 months it was doable without losing track completely.
Principal photography commenced August 4, 2017, and ended November 14, 2017. The film was completed on January 2, 2018.
With a budget of US$15,000, the film can be considered microfilmmaking and guerrilla filmmaking. In an interview with 'futurezone',[https://futurezone.at/digital-life/monochrom-digitales-politisieren-erlebt-eine-renaissance/400006208 futurezone, "Digitales Politisieren erlebt eine Renaissance"; March 15, 2018] Grenzfurthner called the making of the film an ongoing process of "radical DIY". He worked with different teams of people on different chapters,[https://www.zebrabutter.net/der-film-glossary-of-broken-dreams-oder-im-schlachthaus-zum-goldenen-kalb.html Zebrabutter: "Der Film Glossary of Broken Dreams oder: Im Schlachthaus Zum Goldenen Kalb"; April 25, 2018] for example LA-based filmmakers Sophia Cacciola and Michael J. Epstein, who were visiting Vienna for an art residency with monochrom at Museumsquartier.[http://www.q21.at/de/artists-in-residence/artists/artistinfo/sophia-cacciola-michael-j-epstein/ Museumsquartier/Quartier21 AiR programme, Sophia Cacciola & Michael J. Epstein][http://blog.mikeandsophia.com/2018/01/vienna-round-up-our-adventures-in-austria-in-november/ Sophia Cacciola & Michael J. Epstein, "Vienna Round-Up! Our adventures in Austria in November"; January 17, 2018]
The film's main language is English, but features various musical interludes by Duscher&Gratzer and other music groups, performed in German.
Sound design
Daniel Hasibar created the sound design and audioscape underlying Grenzfurthner's narration.[https://www.zebrabutter.net/der-film-glossary-of-broken-dreams-oder-im-schlachthaus-zum-goldenen-kalb.html Zebrabutter: "Der Film Glossary of Broken Dreams oder: Im Schlachthaus Zum Goldenen Kalb"; April 25, 2018][http://www.monochrom.at/glossary Info on film's homepage]Music
The film features music by Michael Donaldson, Inti-Illimani, wobblersound, Kasson Crooker, Duscher&Gratzer, Bottervogel, Christoph Burstup Weiss, among others.[https://www.indieshortsmag.com/reviews/documentary/2018/04/glossary-of-broken-dreams-is-the-sad-reality-of-todays-internet-generation/ Indie Shorts Mag, "Glossary of Broken Dreams Is The Sad Reality Of Todays Internet Generation"; April 11, 2018]
Distribution
The film's world premiere took place at Diagonale Film Festival in Graz, Austria on March 16, 2018. The festival called it a "popcultural wholesale assault".[http://www.diagonale.at/films-a-z/?ftopic=finfo&fid=8720 Glossary of Broken Dreams at Diagonale Film Festival] The North American premiere took place at Vermont International Film Festival on April 11, 2018.[http://vtiff.org/events/glossary-of-broken-dreams-screening-with-filmmaker-johannes-grunzfurthner/ Glossary of Broken Dreams at VTIFF 2018]
Grenzfurthner has a proactive approach to peer-to-peer file sharing. In his interview with Boing Boing he mentions that he put donation info into the film, anticipating its appearance on torrent sites.
The film was released on January 31, 2019 on Vimeo on Demand and can be bought or rented.
Reception
Critical response
Boing Boing says about the film: "Produced with a micro-budget, this monumental mosaic is taking the audience on a ride through an encyclopedia of overused, misconceived, and corrupted concepts and ideas. The fact that it concerns the favorite vocabulary of current discourses, the golden calves of contemporary controversy, makes for a considerably explosive force." Austrian pop culture magazine 'Skug' calls the film "a swan song to the society of ignorance.".[https://skug.at/ein-abgesang-auf-die-ignoranzgesellschaft Skug (Christoph Benkeser), "Ein Abgesang auf die Ignoranzgesellschaft"; March 29, 2018]The Independent Critic's Richard Propes states that "Glossary of Broken Dreams is a nerdgasm of creative consciousness meets good intentions and abundant doses of intellectually informed human compassion. It'll fuck with your mind. Then laugh."[http://theindependentcritic.com/glossary_of_broken_dreams The Independent Critic, "Glossary of Broken Dreams"; April 1, 2018] Film Threat's Bradley Gibson says that it's "aggressive, doesn't pull punches, and burns through ideas at machine-gun rate ... 97 head-spinning minutes of core dump rage and frustration that is also entertaining and witty."[http://filmthreat.com/reviews/glossary-of-broken-dreams/ Film Threat, "Glossary of Broken Dreams"; March 28, 2018]
Austrian magazine Profil calls it "a brilliant feat".[http://www.monochrom.at/glossary/monochrom-profil-12032018.jpg Profil, Wolfgang Paterono, "Die Allesfresser"; March 12, 2018] Gaming and film website 'Press Play' says that "sometimes it feels as if the entire content of Wikipedia would be rammed into your brain with a USB stick."[http://pressplay.at/2018/03/14/glossary-of-broken-dreams/ Press Play, Marco Scheuch, "Glossary of Broken Dreams"; March 14, 2018] ScreenCritix (UK) writes: "Grenzfurthner is our guide through a political minefield, giving us his notes like an angry chorus from the ancient Greek and Shakespearean plays ... an unmethodical survey of a gargantuan topic."[http://screencritix.com/glossary-of-broken-dreams-2018-review/ ScreenCritix, Carl Burgess, "Glossary of Broken Dreams"; March 31, 2018]
'CelebBeat' writes: "The movie delivered on many more levels than I expected possible. It has the potential to break into echo chambers and filter bubbles; it can empower people by providing them with a deeper understanding of the human condition."[https://10ztalk.com/2018/03/30/a-review-of-broken-dreams/ CelebBeat, "Glossary of Broken Dreams"; March 30, 2018] "It's really hard to deny the expert way this movie was pieced together. It's a mix and match party of epic proportions. Old school video game graphics. Puppets. Musicians, anime, the kitchen sink. There's no shortage of style but more importantly, somehow these things all co-exist in seemingly perfect harmony."[https://www.indyred.com/glossary-of-broken-dreams-review.html IndyRed, "Glossary of Broken Dreams"; March 31; 2018] RDTB says: "If Slavoj Zizek would create Kinder Surprise Eggs, this film would be in them."[https://10ztalk.com/2018/03/30/a-review-of-broken-dreams/ RDTB, quoted in 'CelebBeat'; March 30, 2018] UK Film Review's Annie Vincent says about the film: "A highly intelligent and topical film, Glossary of Broken Dreams is an engaging epistemological documentary that will have you chuckling about, choking on, and considering the validity of, your political ideology." 'MicroFilmmaker Magazine' likes the "uncompromising attitude" and "unique taste", but questions the experimental nature of the film and its accessibility: "No real-world interviews were conducted on camera, which surprised me since these are the bread and butter of many documentaries. ... Is it a narrative film? Is it a documentary? Is it both?"
'Film Inquiry' gave a negative review and called the film an "exhausting, maddening experience" while The 405's Ana Leorne states: "Glossary of Broken Dreams would be a proper commedia if it weren't so tragic and yet it cleverly plays with both classifications, either juxtaposing or simply interchanging them, thus contributing to the ultimate proof of the non-existence of binaries."
In the September 2018 issue of 'Ray Kinomagazin', Oliver Stangl gives the film a positive review and calls it "a crazy survey of the present situation".
Awards
The film won the Award of Merit for Feature Film at the 2018 Accolade Global Film Competition[http://accoladecompetition.org/past-winners/awards-of-merit-march-2016/ Accolade Global Film Competition, Awards of Merit 2018] and for Documentary Feature at the 2018 IndieFest.[http://theindiefest.com/past-winners/awards-of-merit-may-2018/ The IndieFest, Awards of Merit 2018] It won Best Experimental Film at the 2018 Subversive Cinema Awards,[http://subversivecinemasociety.com/ Subversive Cinema Society, best Experimental Film 2018] won Best Feature Documentary Foreign at the 2018 Indie Gathering Awards,[http://theindiegathering.com/2018.html The Indie Gathering, Best Feature Documentary Foreign 2018] won Best Hacker Film at the 2018 HOPE Conference,[http://monochrom.at/blog/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=2830&blogId=1 HOPE Conference 2018, Glossary of Broken Dreams, Best Hacker Film] won the Award of Merit for Feature Documentary at the 2018 Impact Doc Awards,[http://impactdocsawards.com/awards-of-merit-july-2018/ Impact Docs Awards, Awards of Merit 2018] and won the main award (Best Feature Length Film) at the Austrian Film Festival Awards 2018.[http://www.austrianfilmfestival.com/austrian_new.html Austrian Film Festival 2018, winner list]References
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