Herostratus

Herostratus is an avant-garde British film that was first shown in 1967, but didn't receive mainstream release until a year later. The film was named after the ancient Greek figure Herostratus, who sought to immortalize his name by destroying what was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The film is directed by Don Levy, an experimental filmmaker known for his deep dive into the seamy underbelly of modern society.

The film’s narrative is carried by the leading actor, Michael Gothard, who plays a struggling young poet named Max, in an unsettling and resonant performance. Living in London during the swinging 60s, Max is overwhelmed with desolation and uses his despair as a form of rebellion against society.

The titular character, Max, decides to commit suicide, but not in quiet desperation. In an absurdist twist, Max seeks assistance from a public relations firm to turn his suicide into a spectacle, a media event that he hopes will expose the hollowness and inanity of modern society's spectacle culture. His plan is to jump to his death, live on television, thereby achieving a perverse form of immortality.

Much like her on-screen character, Gabriella Licudi, who portrayed Clio, is saucy, profound, and relatable. Clio is an advert model, who Max sublets a room from; they eventually form an attraction. As Clio, Licudi stands as Max's sole emotional anchor in the storm of his self-destructive intent.

Peter Stephens gives a riveting performance as Pointer, the sharp, cunning, and disconcerting advertising executive, intrigued and excited by the morbid spectacle Max proposes. Peter convincingly embodies the commercial ruthlessness of his character, representing the soulless side of the marketing industry in the era.

Technically, Herostratus distinguishes itself with an experimental film language. The narrative is fragmented, dispersed through a series of flashbacks, interspersed with disjointed images and scenes, creating a disorienting experience that parallels Max's mental state. The film stands out with hauntingly beautiful black and white photography, offering a bleak but compelling view of 1960s London.

The director, Don Levy, also employs unconventional audio techniques. The film's soundtrack is a cacophony of noise, including dissonant music, poetry recitations, and lines of dialogue repeated and looped. The unique sound design conveys the psychological turmoil within Max and accentuates the disturbing theme of the film.

Moreover, the critique of consumer culture and media manipulation turn the film as a biting satire on the obsession with fame and celebrity. The duality of life and death, fame and obscurity, and the absurdities of the human condition are presented in an extraordinary manner. It captures the zeitgeist of the '60s, a time when the boundaries of mainstream popular culture were being pushed and redefined.

Themes of isolation, commercialization, and the disposability of human life are incredibly pointed, offering a criticism of the modern world that feels just as valid now as it did when Herostratus was released. The progression of the narrative, the layered performance of the cast, and the unconventional themes hit hard, presenting a picture of society that is difficult to digest but deserves to be considered.

Herostratus is one of the hidden gems of British cinema, a one-of-a-kind symbolic and esthetic orgy, set in the mise en scene of the late sixties. Its harsh critique of the commodification of life itself, delivered in a disjointed narrative dusted with pessimism, is an eye-opener. Despite its initial backlash and poor reception, over the years, Herostratus has earned a cult status for its unique portrayal of life, art, death, and fame. It's a film that does not compromise or commercialize its message.

In conclusion, Herostratus stands as a timeless piece of avant-garde cinema, a cult classic that had the courage to grapple with the most profound and challenging issues of human existence. It's a film that seeks not to entertain but to provoke, to challenge, and to unsettle, making it a must-watch for those interested in filmmaking that ventures off the beaten path.