Rabbit's Moon by Jameson Posey

Rabbit's Moon /1972/1979

Kenneth Anger/American/1927

Synopsis: A clown longing for the moon that houses a rabbit is teased and taunted by another and tempted by a beautiful woman. 

Narrative and Visual Keywords: Blue, cold, Cirque, clown, temptress, mythological, pop, gothic, poetic, romantic.

Characterization/ Dialogue: The main character Pierrot is a clown who longs for the moon, he is entranced by its beauty and tries to obtain it over and over. Harlequin shows up who is also a clown but more of a jester type, he resembles a evil joker and taunts Pierrot because of what he is trying to do. He introduces Columbina, a beautiful Thumbalina type character who distracts his lust for the moon and directs it to her. Once the moon is eclipsed Harlequin takes back Columbina and leaves pierrot alone with no one. The characters are all theatre characters who pull all the emotions through exaggerated movements and mannerisms. 

Camera/lighting/editing technique: The camera doesn't really play a character like it does in most modern films, it keeps the performance theatre style and shoots mostly wide's. The lighting is beautiful, set with a blue filter over the lights and lens it makes the whole film seem like an arctic wonderland similar to what of a nightmare before christmas. 

 Political/ Social Commentary: What I got from the film is that longing for something that sometimes seems out of reach comes with is challenges. That even if something seems so out of reach there will be temptations along the way and naysayers but don't give up on your dream because they might disappear and leave you nothing, even without that passion.

Historical Relevance/ Recognition: The Rabbit and the moon shows up throughout history in many folklore, mainly in Japanese and Aztec culture. The rabbit came along because of the crater shadows that makes what appears to be a rabbit on the moon. 

Random fact, Etc. The film was released in 1972 and was 16 minutes long featuring numerous songs but then later rereleased by Anger in 1979 with the looping "It came in the night" by A Raincoat's.

Reaction Questions: 

How would you classify the visual aspects of this film in relationship to theme or mood? 

The visual aspects are all set in the mood of theatre production. From the fake trees to the face paint, costumes and camera. The mood is that of a fantasy forest where clowns and beautiful women in bug costumes live. It really reminded me of a Cirque Du Soliel play or Nightmare before Christmas. 

Does sound play an important role in the piece? If so, what?

I think the first thing that made this piece stick in my head was the music, and it was the 2nd released version that made it work for me. I have never been one to like when directors try to put pop music in movies to try and appeal to a wide audience but Anger did something magical. He was able to take A Raincoat and loop it for seven minutes and not make me blow my face off, rather he made me fall in love with it. It's that perfect mixture of art and pop culture that Warhol was able to capture but through the eyes of Anger.

What is your subjective take on the piece as a whole?

My subjective take on the piece as a whole is that it was affective as a piece of art. At first viewing I was intrigued without knowing why, I left class and continued to watch it ten times in the same night trying to figure out what it is that made it speak to me. I finally realized that I think its the meaning, the longing and the emotion that the blue gives me that makes me connect with it. Art should relate to you in one way or another and if it doesn't then what's the point.