What's new from Jeremiah Kipp? Three little videos in the midst of our Covid pandemic.

TrustMovies tries to follow the work of (mostly) experimental filmmaker Jeremiah Kipp (shown at right) from time to time and is usually happy to have seen whatever Mr. Kipp is giving us. This is true once again, as the filmmaker produces three new videos designed for our current Covid-19 times. 

It appears that Kipp has not directed this time out, as each of these little videos have been filmed by the participants themselves during the lockdown -- though I would suspect Kipp has given all his casts some tips for fast and fundamental filmmaking.

In any case, the results are very worth watching -- particularly two of the three. Two videos are filmed poetry; one works beautifully, the other not so much. 

The first six-minute outing offers 14 actors -- some very good, a couple not so -- tackling Edgar Allan Poe's The Bells, which turns out to make quite a fine symbol and example of what we're all currently going through. Further, Poe's sonorous, repetitive, often quite beautiful words prove fine fodder for these actors, each of whom brings her or his own special voice and ability to the poem. If you've forgotten about Mr. Poe and his often in-critical-favor-then-out-of-favor work, this will remind you again how lovely and moving -- hell, even timely -- he can be.

The second poem (and three-minute film) is Sonnet XVII by Pablo Neruda, a poet I much admire but whose work -- based on what we see here, at least -- I would rather read on my own. While Poe really lends himself to actors and acting, Neruda, I think, does not, and the result actually breaks up the poetry, along with its meaning and its beauty.

The third and longest (eight minutes) movie is called JUMPER and it's something of a lulu. Written by Susannah Nolan, it describes the time of a birth of a baby and the few days that follow, as the babe's mother, father, relatives and friends all join in to recall this fraught period. A slow-burn horror told and acted exceedingly well by all involved and expertly edited by Jessica Green, Jumper's a strange and memorable little trip.

You can view all three of these films at their Vimeo link (no password required) by clicking on each title below: 

The Bells 

Jumper

Neruda's Sonnet XVII