FLicKeR
Film Review
Title: FlicKeR
Director: Nik Sheehan 

HOT DOCS FLicKeR WEBSITE

4 Stars 

Reviewed by: Katie Clancy (Calgary Correspondent - Canada)

FLicKeR is the complicated story of the dream machine and its creator Brion Gysin. A great friend of the Beat generation, and in particular, William S. Burroughs; Gysin was an artist and entrepreneur who died in relative poverty in 1986.  The documentary explores Gysin's unrealized dreams - the discovery and creation of the dream machine, Gysin's need for recognition and love, and his unusual art. It also delves into the idea of alternate states of consciousness, of prophetic dreams and flickering lights, of drugs and drugless highs.  

The story of the dream machine itself often takes on a separate story than that of Gysin's.  The dream machine itself is very simple - a spinning cylinder with cutouts revolves around a light bulb.  By staring at it, or watching it with your eyes closed it provides a drugless high. Dream machines have been a great draw to many pop culture idols. For example one was found in Kurt Cobain's possession when he died. FLicKeR provides a compelling story of the drugless highs as they explore the flicker effect and the idea of experience.

The film may have benefited by focusing more on either Gysin's life or on the dream machine itself. At times, the two seem inextricably linked but sometimes the documentary wanders off into interesting but confusing tangents. Fortunately the excellent visuals that help tie the film together. They utilize flickering light through the trees, the dream machine itself to help tie the story together. A word to the wise though, the constant flickers can be nausea inducing. Archival footage of Gysin and Burroughs provides a blast to the past and showcases what a charismatic figure Gysin could be. Overall it has a really cool art film feel to it. 

One of the most compelling aspects of the film were the interviews with some very charismatic pop culture figures like Iggy Pop, Marianne Faithfull and DJ Spooky. They provide a lot of insight into Gysin's life, and many as dedicated drug users also have a useful comparison for the drugless high of the dream machine. FLicKeR asks many deep questions about art itself and about consciousness, and leaves the viewer to find the answers.