A Comedy in Six Unnatural Acts
Jan Oxenberg’s charmingly raw, politically-charged and remarkably funny celebration of the American lesbian experience validates the nuanced voice of a community otherwise underrepresented in the Wild West of mid-’70s independent filmmaking. In an attempt to combat the pervasive misconception of the “humorless, angry feminist,” the vignettes in A Comedy in Six Unnatural Acts experiment with self-aware yet playful depictions of common stereotypes, such as the “Stompin’ Dyke” or the butch-femme couple. In the process, Oxenberg’s short film reclaims those insults and assumptions as newfound, loaded weapons—to deploy on her own terms, of course. (UCLA Film & Television Archive)
Insights
Plot Summary
This experimental short film, often described as surreal or avant-garde, presents a series of disjointed vignettes that challenge conventional narrative and comedic structures. It explores themes of absurdity and the unconventional through its unique visual and auditory elements, leaving viewers to interpret its meaning.
Critical Reception
As an experimental short film from 1975, "A Comedy in Six Unnatural Acts" did not receive widespread critical reviews in the same way a mainstream feature film would. Its reception is largely confined to niche circles interested in avant-garde cinema and experimental filmmaking. It's often cited as an example of the era's boundary-pushing artistic endeavors.
What Reviewers Say
- Highly experimental and unconventional in its approach to comedy.
- Often perceived as surreal and challenging due to its fragmented narrative.
- A film that prioritizes artistic expression and provocation over traditional storytelling.
Google audience: Information on specific Google user reviews for this short, experimental film is not readily available or widely aggregated.
Fun Fact
The film's unconventional structure and lack of clear narrative make it a subject of discussion among film students studying experimental cinema.
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