Michael Snow, a Different Wavelength

Remembering Michael Snow (1928–2023) a pioneer of Experimental Film.

Experimental Film was an emergent genre through the 1950s and into the 1960s, long before Video Art became commonplace. Of course, it’s clear that the earliest works of cinema were also, by definition, experimental films exploring the potential and language of the moving image. So, what defines Experimental Film and differentiates it from other similar sub-genres such as avant-garde, non-narrative, Underground, Arthouse Cinema, and the Art Movie? The clue is in the term ‘experimental’ — something using new ideas and untested methods or materials whilst introducing a radically fresh approach and promoting subsequent innovation.

Canadian artist, Michael Snow’s seminal film Wavelength (1966–67) could fall into any of the above categories, though became required viewing for students of Experimental Film. For the uninitiated, the film may seem simple on first viewing, boring even… which it is. There’s no denying that very little happens for its entire 45-minute duration, especially when compared to an episode from a popular television show of equal length. But it’s the excruciatingly slow pace and minimal happenings that render it fascinating and strangely absorbing.