The Edge

Shot in crystalline black and white on 35mm, this second part of the trilogy on the Radical New Left is the seismogram of a revolutionary cell’s (nine men and four women) nervous attempts to find a direction. The first shots—police photos of the suspects accompanied by the sound of typewriters—introduce the invisible enemy: the United States, which at this time is intensifying its bombing of Vietnam. Dan (Jack Rader), one of the group’s members, becomes obsessed with the idea of assassinating the president. His plan as to how to move from theory to violent practice hovers over the tense six days shown in the film. Bernard Eisenschitz wrote in the October 1968 issue of Cahiers du cinéma, which featured Kramer on the cover as one of “Quatre Américains” along with Shirley Clarke, John Cassavetes and Andy Warhol: “THE EDGE is already, in preparation for Newsreel, a creative collective process”—Norman Fruchter (sound) and Robert Machover (cinematography and editing) were important figures in the collective, which was founded in late 1967. (Volker Pantenburg)

All retrospective films that will be shown at the Filmmuseum after the Viennale - from 30.10. - can of course also be reserved as usual at filmmuseum.at or by calling 01/533 70 54 and purchased at the box office of the Austrian Film Museum. The prices of the Austrian Film Museum apply.

Robert Kramer (selection): IN THE COUNTRY (1967), THE EDGE (1968), ICE (1969), MILESTONES (1975), SCENES FROM THE CLASS STRUGGLE IN PORTUGAL (1977), GUNS (1980), NOTRE NAZI (1984), DOC'S KINGDOM (1987), X-COUNTRY. BEING A WEDDING BETWEEN US AND THE FARABUNDO MARTÍ LIBERATION FRONT IN PRESIDENT MONROE’S OLD HOUSE (1987/2022), ROUTE ONE/USA (1989), VIDÉOLETTRES ROBERT KRAMER / STEPHEN DWOSKIN (1991), WALK THE WALK (1996), CITÉS DE LA PLAINE (2000)