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"[Stan Brakhage's] abandonment of linear narrative and the
traditional use of characters has made him one of the most  challenging
and rewarding experimental filmmakers. Not only do Brakhage’s films
ultimately change the way we look at filmic images but they also transform
the way we see. Chicago was recently the beneficiary of a mini-Brakhage
festival and the remarkable new issue of the Chicago Review, dedicated
to his work, served as an essential companion. As it turns out, Brakhage’s
visual gift and ambitions are matched by his thought-provoking writingson
film and poetry. This issue includes his writings on aesthetics, film
technique, and an account of a comical meeting with Andrei Tarkovsky.
Brakhage’s interest in American experimental poetry (of the Pound/Olson/Stein
variety) led him to a series of correspondence with such poets as Charles
Olson, Robert Duncan, and Ronald Johnson. In his letters, Brakhage’s
ebullient personality shines through – he is chatty, insightful and
eager to discuss personal plans, poetry, or his own cinematic aesthetics.
Stan Brakhage Correspondences includes essays from leading Brakhage
scholars, covering over four decades of his work and focusing on his overall
project and individual films. The critical essays perfectly complement
Brakhage’s own writings and present a range of new perspectives on
his cinematic ambitions and accomplishments. Not to be missed."
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