the one about the bird

Screened at the BELFAST FILM FESTIVAL 2013

One of the finalist at LA PAROLA IMMAGINATA – TREVIGLIOPOESIA 2013 in ITALY

Hounourable Mention at THE BODY ELECTRIC POETRY FILM FESTIVAL 2013, U.S.A.

Screened at FILMPOEM 2013 as part of a selection curated by Swoon, Dunbar, Scotland.

Screened at TIMELINE 2013 as part of BOKEH YEAH!, with the best of the recent inaugural FILMPOEM FESTIVAL, curated by its founder and director Alastair Cook, with guest programme by Swoon, Manchester, England.

Finalist for the Ó BHEAL INTERNATIONAL POETRY-FILM COMPETITION 2013, Cork, Ireland.

A poetry film based on the poem, the one about the bird, written by Melissa Diem and filmed in Ireland. It explores the human attraction to horrific events through the medium of film. And the idea of the desire to stop and begin again when a situation, an experience, humanity… seems to have gone so horrendously wrong that it is beyond the point of return and can never be undone.

The poem and the visuals were influenced by a black and white film (source unknown) in which children stone a wounded bird to death. I saw this clip of film at a young age and the scenes and all they implied were so startling to me that I have never forgotten the images. Other cinematic influences include the film ‘Don’t Look Now’ in which images suddenly surface in a fleeting glimpse like repressed memories shifting through consciousness.

Visuals by Melissa Diem
Poem written and read by Melissa Diem
Sound production by Colm Slattery

Tags: Avant-garde, experimental, film poem, moving poem, poetry, poetry film, poetry filmfilm poemVideo poemvideo artpoetryexperimentalmoving poemvisual poemAvant-garde, video art, Video poem, visual poem

10 thoughts on “the one about the bird”

Hanno Phenn on April 23, 2013 at 12:08 pm said:

I really do love this .I love it that much I have to reblog it to show it to my followers.

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Hanno Phenn on April 23, 2013 at 12:09 pm said:

Reblogged this on Hanno Phenn and commented:
I really do love this .I love it that much I have to reblog it to show it to my followers.

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Melissa Diem on April 23, 2013 at 12:13 pm said:

Wow! Thanks very much Hanno! I’m so glad you like it and I’ve never been re-blogged before!

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leonaleecully on April 29, 2013 at 8:54 am said:

Reblogged this on leonaleecully and commented:
Beautiful poetry film by Melissa Diem…

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leonaleecully on April 29, 2013 at 8:59 am said:

Hi Melissa – this is such a beautiful melding of images and words. I really love the visuals and editing – very powerful and gorgeous to look at. Please make more!! What did you shoot & edit with?

Is it okay if I share it on my Facebook page through Vimeo?! x Leona

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Melissa Diem on April 29, 2013 at 10:48 am said:

Hi Leona, thanks so much for your lovely comments and I’m really glad you like it. I enjoyed the whole process- so much to learn…
And Yes! I’d be delighted if you shared it on Facebook, thank you. Hope you’re busy and well x

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- leonaleecully on April 29, 2013 at 12:31 pm said:
  
  I’ve shared film & link to this blog on my Facebook page… The editing is fantastic – and the composition. You are multi-talented!!
  
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theworldoutsidethewindow on July 4, 2013 at 10:24 am said:

Simply stunning, like the reference to the Shining (unless I misheard there was one?) Loved this.

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- Melissa Diem on July 4, 2013 at 5:04 pm said:
  
  Thank you. The Shinning isn’t in it, although it wouldn’t be out of place. It’s probably because I’m whispering or my accent :) – the words are on my poetry film if you’re curious I’m really delighted you like it.
  
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  - theworldoutsidethewindow on July 4, 2013 at 5:18 pm said:
    
    Probably my hearing :)
    
    I will look up the words definitely..