Org (Italy-Argentina, 1979) 177 min color DIR-SCR: Fernando Birri. PROD: Terence Hill. MUSIC: Enrico Rava. DOP: Cesare Ferzi, Mario Masini, Ugo Piccone, Huston Simmons, Mario Vulpiani. CAST: Terence Hill, Lidija Juracik, Isaac Twen Obu, Nolika Pareda.
Fernando Birri’s experimental opus was the object of a rare screening, courtesy of the TIFF Wavelength series. Seldom seen since its 1979 Venice debut, this is a departure from the neo-realist style indicative of Birri’s films in his native Argentina: a psychedelic experience ostensibly based upon an Indian myth, but has the essence of a science fiction film, retelling the story of Adam and Eve (or is that Adam and Steve?), via a love triangle (Terence Hill, Lidija Juracik, Isaac Twen Obu). Are they ejected from Earth to start a new civilization, or are they arriving here instead? Boasting over 26,000 edits and 700 audio tracks, Org is nothing if not a barrage for both senses. (In one instance, Terence Hill is referred to by his real name, Mario Girotti, so one assumes there is a real life-reel life subtext intended in this mysterious tapestry.) What does it all mean? I don’t know, but I can say that even running at three hours in length, I was never bored. (Sometimes a shorter version pops up on YouTube.) Alternately confounding, hypnotic, and weirdly beautiful.
Greg Woods
Greg Woods has been a film enthusiast since his teens, and began his writing "career" at the same time- prolific in capsule reviews of everything he had watched, first on index cards, then those hardcover dollar store black journals, then an old Mac IIsi. He founded The Eclectic Screening Room in 2001, as a portal to share his film love with the world, and find some like-minded enthusiasts along the way. In addition to having worked in the film industry for over two decades, he has been a co-programmer of films at Trash Palace, and a programmer/co-founder of the Toronto Film Noir Syndicate. He has also written for Broken Pencil, CU-Confidential, Micro-Film, and is currently working on his first novel. His secret desire is for someone to interview him for a podcast or a DVD extra.