I have to admit that I was struggling with my words on this one, because how do you describe something that you had to see to believe? Yesterday I experienced something extraordinary at Night Visions Film Festival, The Crispin Glover Experience! It was indeed an experience, one that I won’t ever forget.
When I walked into the fully packed theatre, a weird circus music fills my head. It perfectly sets the mood to the show that’s about to begin. The Crispin Glover Experience! In the beginning we are instructed to turn of all technical equipment and no recording of any kind was permitted during the entire show. The lights go out and it gets totally dark and quiet. Suddenly a bright red spotlight hits Crispin Glover’s face. He welcomes us to the show and starts his performance. As soon as the first slide hits the screen, he is immediately in his element, reading passages from his books with a passionate drive. He goes trough about six books, that are just as absurd and surreal as the way he is presenting them. I loved this part of the show, especially parts from his books Concrete Inspection and Rat Catching.
When the hour-long slideshow ends, it’s time for the movie, part two of Glover’s IT-trilogy, It is Fine! EVERYTHING IS FINE. The movie is written by Glover’s friend, a CP-handicapped Steven C. Stewart who also plays the lead in the movie. It is Fine! EVERYTHING IS FINE tells a story of Paul, a wheelchair-bound man who craves women with long hair. In his fantasies people are able to understand him verbally, women find him irresistible, and his is a legitimate threat to anyone who stands in his way.
Photo by David Brothers (via crispinglover.com)
I had seen the trailer before hand and I’m of course familiar with Glovers previous work, but I could not have imagined what was to be projected to the silver screen last night. I can say that some parts of the movie are not easy to watch to say the least, but that’s exactly why you should watch them. One of the most fascinating elements about the movie is the fact that Stewart wrote the movie specifically for himself. It made me think if he wrote the script just to be able to experience the things he probably wouldn’t have been able to to do any other way. Also I thought it was very interesting that you couldn’t understand a word that the protagonist was saying. Only way to know what he was saying, was to listen and watch how other people reacted to him, who did understand him perfectly. I’m still quite blown away about this and I don’t think I have ever witnessed anything quite like it. So the movie is definitely not short on originality.
Here’s the trailer for It is Fine! EVERYTHING IS FINE so you get even some sense of what I’m talking about. But rest assured this movie needs to be seen in a theatre and with the director present. Trust me.
Right after the end credits had rolled mr. Glover came back on stage and asked the audience “So, is there any questions?” with a little grin on his face. He knew there were questions, he knew he had evoked thoughts. And ultimately that has always been his main goal with all his work. Glover talked very openly about his fears for traditional distributing, about financing the movie with money he’d made from Charlie’s Angels, and of course his relationship with the late Steven C. Stewart and how they came about to do the film together. The Q & A session lasted for about an hour, but I could have easily listened to it for much longer.
I encourage everyone to go see this show if you ever get a change. It was an experience like no other and it will definitely give you something to think about.
Also I would personally like to thank everyone at Night Visions for organizing The Crispin Glover Experience! This is one night I will remember for the rest of my life. And also a huge thanks to an idol of mine, mr. Crispin Glover, who not only gave me the movie experience of a life time, but also took the time to have lunch with and Timo the other day.
