In a society constantly looking for permanence in all things, examining the deterioration of an object or life often produces a sense of horror or dread. But sometimes such an examination reveals that beauty and purpose exist even in a state of decay. In his ethereal experimental film, Bill Morrison uses rotting "nitrate" archival film footage (a highly unstable medium, replaced in the 1950s) to create a haunting, swirling contemplation on both the physical and filmic states. A powerful score by Bang on a Can co-founder Michael Gordon (for which DECASIA originally was commissioned to accompany) works in tandem to provoke emotion and meaning.
