Watch The Way Things Go

The Way Things Go is a 30-minute experimental film from Switzerland, directed by Peter Fischli and David Weiss. The movie is a mesmerizing chain reaction of seemingly unrelated objects causing each other's movement in an intricate Rube Goldberg machine-style creation. The film opens with a lit candle falling onto a rope, which burns and releases a tennis ball. The ball rolls, knocking over a plank that causes a bucket of water to pour onto a hotplate, which then starts a bicycle tire spinning. This creates a series of events where objects are set in motion, pushing, pulling, and spinning each other in a series of controlled chaos. It's a never-ending sequence of cause-and-effect.

The objects in the movie are made of everyday materials, such as metals, plastics, water, and fire, and constructed from industrial and domestic relics, such as light bulbs, thermoses, and suitcases, to name just a few. As the sequence progresses, these objects are transformed and converted into new forms, with objects being melted, shredded, and crumpled into new shapes as the momentum of the sequence builds.

The film has no dialogue or narration, as the objects and their movements take center stage. The Way Things Go is a visual experience that invites the viewer to become part of the action, engaging viewers to contemplate the relationships between cause and effect, movement, and transformation.

The film's score, composed by Peter Fischli and David Weiss, uses ambient sounds of the objects in motion and adds in minimalistic electronic music. The score is both understated and compelling, complementing the visuals without overpowering them.

The Way Things Go is an example of kinetic art, an artistic tradition that uses motion to produce non-static art forms. The film's creators were inspired by artists such as Jean Tinguely, whose kinetic sculptures were also designed to produce movement through the use of machines and mechanics.

The film has had a significant influence on art, technology, and filmmaking. It is regularly screened in art museums, and its impact can be seen in the interactive installations of artists like Olafur Eliasson and in contemporary advertisements that have adapted and expanded upon the visual vocabulary of the Rube Goldberg machine.

The Way Things Go has been celebrated as "the most perfect film ever made," but it's worth noting that despite its brilliance, it is also a product of a culture and a specific moment. It emerged from the larger context of the 1980s art movements, influenced by contemporary pop culture and by the political, social, and artistic upheavals of the time.

Despite being 34 years old, The Way Things Go remains as mesmerizing and captivating as it was when it was first released. Its ability to create a unique and immersive experience continues to draw in audiences, and its influence continues to ripple throughout the art world. It's a testament to the creativity and innovation of its creators, and to the power of art that can speak across generations and cultures.

The Way Things Go is a 1987 documentary with a runtime of 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6.