Manon de Boer, South London Gallery

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Manon de Boer, South London Gallery

Short films about memory fail to leave much of a trace

by Fisun GunerMonday, 10 January 2011

Unlike Warhol's Superstars, Sylvia Kristel remains coolly composed in front of the camera

A well-groomed, middle-aged woman walks into view and lights a cigarette. She stands, she smokes, the camera gives us a steady close-up of her face. As she appears to reminisce, her face subtly registers a range of emotions. Is she agitated, sad, irritated? She takes long drags of her cigarette. The film ends and she walks out of view. A second film begins. Same woman, same duration. A cigarette is smoked, the camera lingers on her face. She’s lost in recollection, but wait, there are subtle changes. A different backdrop.

The camera always seemed to get the better of them, exposing their vulnerabilities, their silly vanities

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