Film Retrospective Presentation
The Unique Universe of Rosto
Expect to get lost in a world of crossroads and rock 'n' roll, parallel worlds and time-zones, mirrors and alter egos, roadmaps and Evil Wicked Whale. Dutch media artist Rosto has created a unique, complex and extensive mixed-media universe, with mysterious landscapes and cryptic road trips. Sometimes hallucinating and delusional, sometimes surreal and enchanting, always outspoken. The layered narrative of the visual songs or musical shorts is rich in winks and existential questions. An overwhelming, unforgettable cinematic experience.
It all began with a series of rock 'n' roll songs that Rosto has been writing since 1995. The songs were the inspiration for the serial graphic novel Mind My Gap that started in 1998. With the rise of the internet it quickly incarnated online: 26 episodes were published irregularly until 2014. During these years the project spawned a series of short films, a trilogy: Beheaded (2000), Anglobilly Feverson (2002), Jona/Tomberry (2005) and spin-off The Monster of Nix (2011). The Monster of Nix attracted collaborations with international musicians and voices, including the Metropole Orchestra, The Residents, Terry Gilliam and Tom Waits. In the meantime, the original Songs From My Gap were recorded within Rosto’s music project Thee Wreckers. Three of these songs have been released as short music films: No Place Like Home (2008), Lonely Bones (2013) and Splintertime (2015) – building up to a intended tetralogy. Over the years Rosto has acquired prestige internationally and received critical acclaim and countless awards, among others in Annecy, Brussels, Cannes, Melbourne, Ottawa and Utrecht and last but not least the brand new Visionary Award at the Sapporo Festival 2015, especially introduced to honour Rosto’s work.
(The Rise and Fall of the Legendary) Anglobilly Feverson
Méliès meets Kerouac in a cryptic roadmovie through the clouds. Instead of a hole in the head, Diddybob gets a story about the hole in the sky.
Beheaded
Weill meets Disney in depressingly optimistic end-credits. It was "just" a dream; off with his head!
Tomberry
Borges meets Murnau in a spinning nightmare. And the baby sings: “No, not be scared old bird, to awake and see I am dreaming you”.
No Place Like Home
A one-eyed has-been TV presenter hides away in a hotel room with his dead sidekick to watch reruns from their better days.
The Monster of Nix
Life is good in the idyllic fairy-tale village of Nix... until an all-devouring monster appears. Young Willy has to fight it. Alone.
Lonely Bones
Hail to all the souls hiding on rotting floors wandering about without knowing what to do.
Splintertime
“Zip up! And let’s dance to the sound of breaking glass.” A band of sleepy spirits in an ambulance runs out of road. The third in a series of musical films featuring Thee Wreckers.