La vendetta del cineoperatore

Decades before David Lynch or Gary Larson were even born, Wladyslaw Starewicz was creating surreal animated films featuring insects living in houses, driving cars and committing adulterous affairs. Yes, this short feature is way ahead of its time and remains to this day quite extraordinary. The very idea of depicting a domestic love triangle with insect characters is bizarre to say the least. The fact that the subject matter is clearly one aimed at adults not children shows that at this very early stage in the development of animation it wasn't necessarily obvious that this new form was perfect for children's features. No, this is more like a surrealist film, except of course, surrealism hadn't actually been invented yet! Yes, it has to be said that The Cameraman's Revenge is a highly original bit of work, and one that without question should be far better known.

The story is about a jealous grasshopper cameraman who films an illicit affair between Mr. Beetle and an exotic dragonfly dancer from the 'Gay Dragonfly' nightclub. Mr. Beetle's wife, Mrs. Beetle is simultaneously conducting a secret friendship with a floppy hat wearing artist insect. Mr. Beetle catches them in in a compromising situation and angrily drives him away. The Beetles then make up and go to the cinema but lo and behold the projectionist is our grasshopper friend and he splices in footage of the adulterous Mr. Beetle in action. Mrs. Beetle goes crazy and batters him over the head with an umbrella. The fight escalates and ends up in the projection booth catching fire and the Beetles are imprisoned for their actions. In jail they start to make up with one and other.

I don't usually bother to write synopsis in my reviews, or if I do I make it very brief. But I have made an exception for this film, as recounting this madness is a bit of a strange pleasure actually. This really is a one off as far as I can tell, I am unaware of any other insect-based love triangle films. The animation itself is excellent and is a clear precursor for the stop-motion work of the more famous Willis O'Brien and Ray Harryhausen. But for sheer originality and general weirdness, Cameraman's Revenge is the one. I would recommend this to anyone with a wish to see something a bit different to the norm.

'The Cameraman's Revenge (1912)' is a delight. It's over a hundred years old, but it still holds up as a genuinely entertaining and impressive piece. It's a stop-motion short film that uses dead bugs as puppets. As morbid as that is, it's also really inventive. It helps that the animation is really good, packed with plenty of small details that make its characters feel alive. That's even more special when you consider that this was one of the first stop-motion films ever released. The picture is entertaining right the way through, even if it is a tad slow in places, and it has a wicked sense of dry humour that made me laugh on more than one occasion. Most of its humour comes from the dichotomy between its story and its aesthetics; it's a film about infidelity and its cast is entirely composed of posthumously animated insects. There's nothing fantastical about its narrative at all, which is why it's so intriguing and, in an almost odd way, funny. The bugs drive cars, they live in houses, they have jobs, they paint pictures, they go to clubs, they watch movies, they use cameras, they have spouses (which they cheat on), they enact vengeance, they brawl and they make out (and, yes, seeing this is as exactly as strange as you'd think it would be). It's so bizarre that these bugs live ordinary lives and make the same mistakes as us humans; this is where its comedy comes from. It's keenly aware of its uncanny nature and takes full advantage of it. It's incredibly charming overall. It's enjoyable, funny and impressive. It's a real treat. 8/10.

The impressive animation alone would make this more than worthwhile, and the amusing story alone would make entertaining viewing for any fan of silent comedies. The two together make "The Cameraman's Revenge" a delightful classic that looks much better than practically anything made by the computerized studios of the present time.

The story itself is similar to many other short features of its era - 'Fatty' Arbuckle and other comics of the era made numerous entertaining movies with similar ideas. But having Mr. and Mrs. Beetle, instead of live actors, getting involved in the slapstick escapades with their various insect paramours and rivals makes it funnier and zanier. It works wonderfully well, because the animation is so detailed and painstaking. You can watch it several times and still appreciate the little details. Not only that, the puppet insects are made to act in very 'human' ways, while retaining the accurate form of real insects. It's an amazing and enjoyable combination.

Given how increasingly popular that animation has become, it seems surprising that this and Starewicz's other gems are not much better known and appreciated. This is one of his very best, and is well worth taking the time to see.

In this 1912 film, the main characters are insects (except for a vaudeville frog). Using, I assume, stop-action animation, we are told the story of two beetles who have a turbulent marriage. Mr. Beetle goes off to a nightclub where he cavorts with a beautiful dragonfly. In the process, he anger a grasshopper who is a filmmaker. The guy gets upset and films Mr. Beetle's dalliance. Mrs. Beetle also has an affair with an artist bug who comes to her house and is discovered by the cheating husband. There is indeed revenge. Had the story been told with regular actors, it would not have been much. What was done with early century technology is striking.

This short is a puzzlement. Words fail me here, as this is almost indescribable, Technically exceptional after more than 90 years (the visuals are remarkable and even occasionally amazing), this is not something you watch if you like things that are mundane or "normal'-because it most certainly is not either. This be an odd one, gang. Well worth checking out, but if things like Ren and Stimpy make your head hurt, you may want to skip this. Recommended.