Free Radicals (1958)

In this powerful abstract film with a soundtrack of African drum music, Lye scratched "white ziggle-zag-splutter scratches" on to black leader, using a variety of tools from saw teeth to arrow heads. The first version of the film won a major award at the International Experimental Film Festival Held in Brussels in 1958 in association with the World's Fair. Stan Brakhage described the film as "an almost unbelievably immense masterpiece".

Released April 23, 1958 5 min None+

Genres: Animation, Music

Keywords: imdb.direct-animation, imdb.camera-less, imdb.drawn-on-film, tmdb.abstract, imdb.african-music, imdb.experimental-short, imdb.national-film-registry + 5 more, imdb.world-music, imdb.abstract-art, imdb.avant-garde-short, tmdb.short-film, awards.national-film-preservation-board-winner