Pas de Trois

“The question of whether certain kinds of film formalism tend to be sexually reactionary is encapsulated in this little triptych. Each of the three sections includes three kinds of information. In the first section, we see single frames of strippers dancing, single frame clusters of red and then yellow, and single frame clusters of what looks to be a light source. The imagery and clear colours mix retinally, and with the flickering light source, makes this section reminiscent of looking into a movie projector. In the second section we see live action footage of a little girl presumably competing in a twirling contest. This footage regularly dissolves into and out of a blue light, which itself is punctuated by a single frame of what looks to be a movie screen. Finally, in the third section, red-toned footage of three strippers, recorded in slightly fast motion, alternates with eight-frame passages of lime green leader and, in four instances, with shots of several fish in a tank reminiscent of the final section of ‘Surface Tension.’ Together the three sections suggest something of film’s history, as well as the figure as the focus of the viewer’s gaze. ‘Pas de Trois’ is reminiscent of Paul Sharits’ single-frame films, of Robert Huot’s ‘Strip,’ and of some of Hollis’ earliest film work.” – Scott MacDonald