"HyperNormalisation" by Adam Curtis
The film “HyperNormalisation” is interesting and not something I’ve seen before. Curtis uses the archive as the premise of the entire piece rather than it being a supporting aspect. The film is made up of countless clips of historical footage, news recordings, video interviews, all combined to make a film that tells a story that bridges decades of time together.
The unusual construction allows Curtis to do a few things: 1) Put into perspective different events, by splicing together clips that seemingly have no relation to one another, Curtis is able to set a scene and relate various historical moments 2) The manipulation of clips to tell a story that may not be true to reality, as the clips show how the information provided to the people have been framed by the media and political entities to control the reaction/view of the public on different events that are occurring.
The film is chaotic because the timeline is not sequential, however it is crafted in a way that the movement through decades and continents is seamless. The stitching of different clips represents the disarray and connection of the world but also shows how Curtis is able to use the archive to create his own message of these clips that once had another meaning. Narrating is also one the biggest parts of the construction of this piece, as his voice is the one consistent aspect throughout the film. Curtis does employ some interesting techniques that aid in the film. Contrast is a prevalent theme as Curtis can go from showing a beautiful city straight to a clip of a city on fire.
The film certainly leaves you feeling uneasy as it exposes deeply rooted issues. For me, the film produced anxiety because of the structure or lack thereof. While I still believe it’s a great film and unique creation, it was hard for me to digest it as a viewer.
