FLicKeR (2009)
July 14, 2009Release Date
Plot.
Where to Watch.
Cast & Crew.
Richard Metzger
Self
Brion Gysin
Self (archive footage)
William S. Burroughs
Self
Genesis P-Orridge
Self
Kenneth Anger
Self
Iggy Pop
Self
Marianne Faithfull
Self
Marcus Boon
Self
Udo Breger
Self
John Dunbar
Self
Catherine Clément
Self
Ira Cohen
Self
Brett Despotovich
Self
Sophie Duplaix
Self
John Geiger
Self
John Dunbar
Self
Media.
Details.
Release DateJuly 14, 2009
StatusReleased
Running Time1h 15m
Genres
Last updated:
Wiki.
FLicKeR is a Canadian documentary film written and directed by Nik Sheehan, produced by Maureen Judge and Silva Basmajian (NFB). The film is based on the book Chapel of Extreme Experience by John G. Geiger about the work of artist Brion Gysin and his Dreamachine.
Gysin's Dreamachine used a 100-watt light bulb, a motor, and a rotating cylinder with cutouts. Its users would sit in front of it, close their eyes, and experience visions as a result of the flashes of light. Gysin believed that by offering the world a drugless high the invention could revolutionize human consciousness.
The documentary features interviews with many prominent figures from the beat movement who had experimented with Gysin's invention and discuss his life and ideas in the film. Notable figures include Marianne Faithfull, DJ Spooky, The Stooges, Iggy Pop, Lee Ranaldo, Genesis P-Orridge, John Giorno, Floria Sigismondi, and Kenneth Anger.
The film premiered in Toronto in 2008 at the international documentary film festival Hot Docs and received the festival's award for the best Best Canadian Feature Documentary . It then went on to win in the Best Film on International Art category at the 2009 Era New Horizons Film Festival in Poland, and was also nominated for a 2009 Gemini Award in the category of Best Performing Arts Program or Series or Arts Documentary Program or Series, and best original score by composer Edmund Eagan. Nik Sheehan was also nominated for a Canadian screenwriting award by the Writers Guild of Canada.