Les Blank Films (Firm)
Pub. Date
2009.
Description
This is a compilation of short film portraits of art car artists filmed and edited by Harrod Blank. Shooting began in 1995 and editing was completed in 2008. Shorter versions of these portraits appeared in the film Automorphosis in 2009. The goal of creating these portraits was Blank’s attempt to capture the psychology of the artist, to celebrate their unique and diverse character, and to show how their art car was a part of their identity.
Pub. Date
2015.
Description
How to Smell A Rose documents Les Blank's visit with the legendary co-founder of Direct Cinema, Richard Leacock (1921-2011), in 2000. At his farm in Normandy, France, Blank, and co-director Gina Leibrecht, recorded conversations with Leacock about his life, his work, and his other passion: cooking! In the early sixties, together with Robert Drew, D.A. Pennebaker, and the Maysles brothers, Leacock changed the way documentary films were made.. Leacock's...
Pub. Date
2020.
Description
THAILAND MOMENT, one of Les Blank's earliest films, is a beautifully rendered visual experience. Blank and fellow filmmaker Skip Gerson were hired to work on a documentary about the B52 bombing campaigns over Vietnam. That film never came to be, but the two traveled during the downtime and filmed this gentle meditation on a lush country - a moment in time. Remastered by Harrod Blank (Son) in 2015.
4) Batman Alley
Pub. Date
2018.
Description
A journey through BATMAN ALLEY, an area of Sao Paulo, Brazil covered in street art and graffiti.
Pub. Date
2017.
Description
This softball umpire training film was one of Les Blank’s early industrial films made in 1962 prior to his independent filmmaking career. He made over 20 industrial films which helped him hone his skills as a filmmaker. Les recorded his own voice for most of the umpire calls which are humorous. Found as a marked-up work print in a cardboard box, this film wasn’t completed until 2015.
Pub. Date
1973.
Description
More than an anthropological documentary, this rare, beautifully made record of the Volador ritual as performed by the Totonac Indians of Huehuetla, Puebla, Mexico, brings alive the mythic dimensions of ritual communal celebration. The Voladores (Flyers) ritual dates back to 500 A.D. The soundtrack consists of flute and drum music, with narration taken from 15th century Nahuatl poetry.
Pub. Date
1997.
Description
A reflexive, first-person narrative by Captain Don Leslie, a sideshow sword-swallower, human blockhead, tattooed man, and fire eater. Recounting everything from childhood feelings of being an “oddball” to his injuries as a sword-swallower, Captain Don spews flames, lights his tongue on fire, and sings about the circus and tattooing.
Pub. Date
2015.
Description
This documentary chronicles efforts to provide survival resources and opportunities for homeless and at risk people to start a new life. Intertwined in the day-to-day operations of The Stewpot, the film focuses on three of its clients and their deeply personal struggles to stabilize their lives: Gerald Williams, a musician whose crack addiction ruined his career; Alisa Flores, a victim of an abusive relationship; and Velietta Dickens Rogers, a rape...
Pub. Date
1978.
Description
Produced and directed by Kidlat Tahimik, this brilliant semi-autobiographical fable tells the story of a young Filipino born in 1942 (during the Occupation), his awakening to, and reaction against, American cultural colonialism. In his small village, Kidlat dreams of Cape Canaveral and listens to the Voice of America; he's even the president of his village's Werner Von Braun fan club. Winner of the Berlin Film Festival International Critics Award...
10) Zydeco
Pub. Date
1984.
Description
An enduring ethnographic portrait of Zydeco’s beloved musical families and their Creole identity as seen at home, in local clubs, at work and running Mardi Gras. With the Carrière Brothers, “Bois Sec” Ardoin, John Delafose and Delton Broussard.
Pub. Date
1998.
Description
The 1995 excavation of La Belle, buried beneath Matagorda Bay off the coast of Texas for more than three centuries, is among the most significant archeological discoveries in North America. Through an unprecedented recovery effort by the Texas Historical Commission, including the construction of a cofferdam and the pumping out of more than 300,000 gallons of water, the ill-fated expedition in 1684 by French explorer René-Robert Cavalier, Sieur de...
12) Warriors of Joy
Pub. Date
2014.
Description
Every Year in New Orleans, Louisiana the Mardis Gras Indian tribes gather on the Sunday closest to St. Joseph’s Day to celebrate their pride and joy. Influenced by his father Les Blank, son Harrod Blank joins the parade with his camera. This is a tribute piece to “*Always for Pleasure*”.
Pub. Date
2005.
Description
This documentary chronicles the excavation of Fort St. Louis, built in 1685 by the French explorer René-Robert Cavalier, Sieur de La Salle on the banks of Garcitas Creek, which feeds into Matagorda Bay. On this site in 1722, the Spanish, after searching for years to find the remains of the French fort, erected Presidio La Bahia with a stockade wall in the shape of a 16-pointed star. DREAMS OF CONQUEST follows Texas Historical Commission archeologists...
14) The Hard Ride
Pub. Date
1996.
Description
An intimate look at black cowboys as they gather for a rodeo and dance on the 40 acre Circle 6 Ranch in Raywood, Texas. A dirt road leads onto the ranch, where all of the structures, including a frame house, rodeo arena, and barn, are hand-wrought. A.J. Walker, his wife Pam, and his son, Anthony, are preparing for the monthly rodeo. This rodeo, which draws from the surrounding communities, is very much a family operation. Black cowboys drive their...
Pub. Date
2005.
Description
High above where the Rio Conchos joins the Rio Grande along the Texas-Mexico border, people in this film say the devil has mounted a swing, from which he can effect everything, revealing himself through seemingly unrelated worlds — sacred rituals, corridos, druglords, Pancho Villa, and the tragic killing of 19 year-old boy. Official Selection at the **SXSW Film Festival**.
Description
Lightnin' Hopkins sings about playing cards with Les Blank and Skip Gerson - a card game he won which turned critical to the making of the film "The Blues Accordin' To Lightnin' Hopkins." After filming 13 songs, Lightnin' had told Les and Skip that he was done filming. As a last resort Les asked Lightnin' to play cards and he lost {dollar}200. But then Lightnin' agreed to film more. 3 1/2 min Color.
17) Wind Sounds
Pub. Date
2021.
Description
This creative educational film by Pieter Van Deusen features a variety of wind instruments performed by noted musicians Eli Hollander & Tony Plog. The film crew included Les Blank as 2nd Camera along with assistant Skip Gerson. This film was part of a music film series for Churchill Films: WIND SOUNDS, Percussion Sounds, and an offshoot film by Pieter with Les Blank entitled Christopher Tree.
18) Homeric Hymn
Pub. Date
2020.
Description
Pichi and Avo, an acclaimed street artist duo from Valencia in Spain came to New York City to create a mural of the Homeric Hymn. Internationally renowned for their ability to create relationships between art, architecture, sculpture, space and social contexts Pichi and Avo show how they work in this short by Alan Govenar.
Pub. Date
2020.
Description
In 1964, Mariepaul Vermersch and her parents, Maurice and Rose, arrived at the World's Fair site in Queens and set up a booth serving the popular street food from their home in Brussels, Belgium's capital. They wanted to call them Brussels Waffles, but Rose discovered that Americans didn't know where Brussels was. They began calling them Bel-Gems or Belgian Waffles. They were unlike almost every other waffle served in the United States until then:...