Beethoven's Chicken

16mm, color, sound, 6.5 min
scans not available
"... consists of chickens being butchered and hung out on meat hooks, to the accompaniment of the Fifth Symphony. As the film progresses, the imagery mutates from nearly documentary to nearly surreal. ...
Rental format: 16mm

About

"... consists of chickens being butchered and hung out on meat hooks, to the accompaniment of the Fifth Symphony. As the film progresses, the imagery mutates from nearly documentary to nearly surreal. An eyeball-clashing scene recalls "Chien Andalou" yet Devensky holds it on-screen much longer than Dali and Bunuel. Finally a chickens' skull is pounded to bits by a hammer. And each time we think (or wish) the final blow has fallen another follows. The camera peeks all the while and one is uncertain of what is more disquiting - the action on the film, or ridged stare of the camera. –Richard Koszarski, New York American

Films

  • Other films by this artist in our catalogue

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    Crowds
    Experimental

    Crowds
    David Devensky

    digital, color and b/w, silent, 38 min
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    Coffee Grinds
    Experimental

    Coffee Grinds
    David Devensky

    16mm, black and white, silent, 9 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Comedy
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    Old Time Comedy Night
    Experimental

    Old Time Comedy Night
    David Devensky

    16mm, black and white, sound, 11 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Comedy
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    Shorts (8 Films)
    Documentary
    Experimental

    Shorts (8 Films)
    David Devensky

    16mm, color and b/w, silent and sound, 84 min
    Rental format: Digital file
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    Comedy Vignettes of 1970
    Documentary
    Experimental

    Comedy Vignettes of 1970
    David Devensky

    16mm, black and white, sound, 12 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Comedy
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    Proof
    Experimental

    Proof
    David Devensky

    16mm, color, sound, 25 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Caterpillars and Ants
    Experimental

    Caterpillars and Ants
    David Devensky

    16mm, black and white, sound, 5.25 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    Evolutions's Step
    Experimental

    Evolutions's Step
    David Devensky

    16mm, black and white, sound, 10 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Philosophical
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    Homecall
    Experimental

    Homecall
    David Devensky

    16mm, color and b/w, silent, 7.5 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Found Footage
    • Personal / Diary / Journal
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    The Divine Comprehension
    Experimental

    The Divine Comprehension
    David Devensky

    digital, color and b/w, sound, 31.45 min
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    I Wish I Could Shimy Like My Sister Kate
    Experimental

    I Wish I Could Shimy Like My Sister Kate
    David Devensky

    16mm, black and white, sound, 2 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Arts / Artists
    • Dance
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    Vampeer
    Experimental
    Narrative

    Vampeer
    David Devensky

    16mm, color, silent, 10 min
    Rental format: 16mm
    • Arts / Artists
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    The Gramophone Man
    Experimental

    The Gramophone Man
    David Devensky

    digital, color and b/w, sound, 85 min
    Rental format: Digital file
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    The Record Collectors
    Experimental

    The Record Collectors
    David Devensky

    digital, color, sound, 34.18 min