The film, “Far Side of the Moon” by Robert Lepage is an intriguing piece that sends its viewers into a world of numerous journeys. The main characters featured in the film are two Canadian brothers, Philippe and Andre. Philippe is presented as a learner who is in the verge of his academic journey as he tries to defend his thesis on the consequences of space walk on popular culture (Lepage, 2010). In fact, Philippe yearns to tour to a new world in the space. Andre on the other hand turns out to be a television weatherman who contrary to his brother, Philippe, features as being brash, vocal, and courageous (Lepage, 2010). A close examination of the film shows that the film is indeed experimental. This essay argues that the film, “Far Side of the Moon” by Robert Lepage is really an experimental film.
For the sake of this essay, the term “experimental film” will be used to refer to a film that is unconventional; meaning that it rarely reaches a wide range of audience (Breton, 2013). Thus, there are many aspects depicted in the film, “Far Side of the Moon” that prove that the film is unconventional. To start with, the film starts by introducing the two brothers (Philippe and Andre) as having contrasting characters despite staying together at the extend of sharing bed for a long time. For instance, while Philippe features as a hopeless academician dwelling in the field of unseen academics and busy trying to defend his thesis on the effects of space walk, his brother Andre is a television weatherman who is presented as being materialistic. One would expect that the two brothers have related thoughts, but Lepage proves that it is possible for two people raised together to have different perspectives in life; using his two main characters, Philippe and Andre; a situation which sounds peculiar to the audience.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
It is also unordinary for a young man like Philippe to present a doctoral thesis on the effects of space travel, yet he has never been to the space. Interestingly, Philippe presents the thesis in opening scenes. In his presentation, Philippe appears to be yearning for something that is able to connect him to something special despite the death of his mother, which is too unrealistic; an aspect that characterizes films as being experimental (Breton, 2013). Therefore, the act of Philippe presenting the doctoral thesis about space travel is more of experimental than realistic. Another aspect of the film that proves that the film is indeed experimental is its aspect of incorporating scientific views in it. For instance, Lepage gives an insight that the invisible side of the moon is named “the dark side of the moon” to refer to the craters named after the Great Russian artists and scientists. No wonder the film first appeared at a time when there was a stiff competition between the Russian scientists and the American scientists on space travel. In fact, the name (dark side of the moon) displays both scientific and cultural aspects of the two countries (U.S and Russia). The fact that the movie has some aspects of both scientific and cultural views also proves that the film is indeed experimental.
Besides, the film also visualizes the aspect of space walk. For example, one character (Jacques) demonstrates his physical dexterity and grace. He does a virtual space walk with the aid of ceiling at an acute angle and the floor furniture. The fact that visualization is one of the features of experimental films also proves that “Far Side of the Moon” is an experimental film. Lastly, it is apparent that the film was intended to reach two main audiences, Russia and the United States, who are at the verge of the race for the space walk. This is depicted by the allegory struggles of the two brothers, Philippe and Andre, as they view life in different aspects; bringing out the theme of the two nations (Russia and U.S) as struggling nations that are in stiff competition for the space title. The movie therefore was made for the two nations and may sound irrelevant to the other nations; reflecting one of the characters of the experimental films (experimental films are designed to address a specific audience), thus further proving that the film is indeed experimental.
References
Breton, A. (2013). “What is Surrealism?” excerpt. Gary Carlin’s Page. 1-15. Accessed May 28, 2007. http://home.wlv.ac.uk/~fa1871/
Lepage, R. (2010). Far Side of the Moon (Robert Lepage). Accessed May 13, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_HI70pLYhc
