Passages from James Joyce's Finnegans Wake
Mary Ellen Bute / US, 1966 / 92 min.
James Joyce unfilmable? Not in the eyes of experimental film pioneer Mary Ellen Bute who translated the dreamlike Finnegans Wake into celluloid resulting in an overwhelming Joycean free flow of images, words and acting. James Joyce expert and translator Erik Bindervoet discusses the musical and cinematic aspects of the book.
In a feverish, booze-powered dream pub owner Finnegan sees his death and burial. From his coffin he comments on the graveside oratory replete with cliches and sincere (or not) expressions of loss, tries to invade the minds of his friends and acquaintances, all in an entirely unique language – enthralling, surrealist and choked with humorous allusions.
Restored by the Yale Film Archive with support from the National Film Preservation Foundation.
This is part of
Special screenings
Details
Director
Mary Ellen Bute
Production year
1966
Country
US
Original title
Passages from James Joyce's Finnegans Wake
Length
92 min.
Language
English
Subtitles
NONE
Format
35mm
Part of
Underground
This autumn, Eye Filmmuseum highlights the American avant-garde cinema of the 1960s. The exhibition and film programme feature both iconic and lesser-known works, showcasing the era's vibrant experimental spirit. Highlights include films by pivotal avant-garde figures such as Jonas Mekas, Maya Deren and Stan Brakhage, as well as contributions from prominent visual artists like Bruce Conner, Yayoi Kusama, Yoko Ono, and Andy Warhol. This exploration of cinematic innovation is set against the backdrop of a changing society.
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