In cinephile circles, probably no piece of dialogue and visuals have been so widely dismissed as the plastic bag scene from Sam Mendes Oscar-winning, critically acclaimed, but widely cinephile-hated, “American Beauty.” Well, I’m not here to stick up for “Beauty,” a movie that is undoubtedly simultaneously over- and under-rated, but to present a flying-plastic-bag movie that I can’t imagine cinephiles, or anyone else, not taking to their hearts.
Via Anne Thompson comes the simply titled “Plastic Bag,” starring the voice of director Werner Herzog and an unbranded, beige plastic bag. Written, directed, and edited by up-and-coming feature film-maker Amin Bahrani, this roughly 18 minute short subject is both emotionally powerful and beautiful, a commentary on the human condition and testimony to our ability to anthropomorphize anything. I have no idea how Bahrani staged some of it, so it also has the appeal of a great magic trick.
Born and raised in North Carolina, Bahrani, who is currently teaching at Columbia’s film school in New York, is a relatively new independent director who has flown under my radar so far. Not any more.
Also, just in case it’s new to you, that oceanic plastic bag vortex is not a science-fictional cinematic invention but entirely real.
