Watch Symbiopsychotaxiplasm

Symbiopsychotaxiplasm is a groundbreaking experimental film directed by William Greaves, released in 1968. The film is a unique blend of fiction and documentary, exploring the boundaries and overlapping of these two genres. It features largely improvised performances from its cast and an ambiguous narrative structure that asks philosophical questions about truth, deception, and identity.

The film follows the production of a fictional drama, also called "Symbiopsychotaxiplasm," which is being shot in Central Park. Patricia Ree Gilbert and Don Fellows play a couple who are constantly arguing and seem to be on the brink of breaking up. Jonathan Gordon is the young director who is shooting the film-within-a-film. As Gordon attempts to direct the actors, he is constantly interrupted by a second camera crew that is filming and commenting on his every move.

What makes the film unique is the way in which it blurs the lines between the different layers of reality. The primary storyline, which involves the couple's arguments, is intercut with footage of the cameramen discussing the production and interviews with passers-by in Central Park. These interviews offer a meta-commentary on the making of the film, with some people expressing confusion or explicit disapproval of what's happening on the set.

Throughout the film, Greaves plays with the viewer's expectations, challenging them to determine what is real and what is staged. A standout sequence involves one of the cameramen breaking down in tears and lashing out at his colleagues for exploiting his emotions. It's unclear whether the moment is genuine or part of the film's overall structure.

The performances of the cast are raw and authentic, and the film's focus on improvisation adds to the sense of spontaneity and unpredictability. One of the most memorable scenes involves Gilbert confronting Fellows with a fierce monologue about the difficulties of being a woman in a male-dominated society. Greaves allows the scene to play out in real-time, without any cuts or interruptions, lending an almost documentary-style realism to the performance.

The film also contains moments of humor and absurdity. One of the cameramen, for example, becomes fixated on a small boy playing in the park and decides to follow him with his camera. The scene is simultaneously creepy and hilarious, and the boy's obliviousness to the intrusion makes it all the more uncomfortable.

Overall, Symbiopsychotaxiplasm is a fascinating, challenging, and thought-provoking film that defies easy categorization. Its unconventional approach to narrative and its questioning of the boundaries between fact and fiction make it a unique addition to the experimental film canon. Despite its initial obscurity, the film has gained a cult following over the years and continues to inspire new generations of filmmakers who value experimentation and risk-taking in cinema.