Testa

Testa supplements Karl-Heinz Klopf´s distinguished film portfolio of architectural portraits with yet another premier structure, namely Argentina´s National Public Library designed by Clorindo Testa. This mega structure made of concrete already constituted an anachronism back at the time of its opening in 1995: Its design dated back to 1961 but construction only first began in 1973. And so it is that this piece of convoluted architecture exudes an atmosphere thick with a sense of different eras. Seen from a Latin American perspective it represents an example of "Brutalism with an Argentinian accent", while for many interested Europeans it realizes the bold dream of an inspired, exemplary late modernist architecture.

The film conveys much of the fascination inspired by the design of the building. Initial images show a grey, relief-like structure interrupted by a raised rectangle enclosing a smaller rectangle, leaving in doubt what is being depicted. Gradually it becomes clear that the camera has captured the underside of a building as it moves forward one shot at a time. The narrow perspective does not change throughout the course of the film. We never see a complete "building". Through Piranesian bridges, shafts, stairwells, and shadows we discover a convoluted, labyrinthine structure from which we cannot free ourselves – we are trapped by the meandering movement of the camera. A shift from black and white to color coincides with a change on the soundtrack: While the first part of the film captures authentic traffic noise in Buenos Aires, including the irritating barking of a dog, in the second part we hear details about the history of the building from the perspective of its various users. The extraordinary uniqueness of Testa is its conceptual decision to convey such an opulent filmic subject through narratively unspectacular individual features. Unaided by a long shot, the building as a whole is left abstract to the imagination. (Patricia Grzonka)

Translation: Eve Heller

Orig. Title
Testa
Year
2018
Countries
Austria, Argentina
Duration
18 min
Director
Karl-Heinz Klopf
Category
Documentary, Short film
Orig. Language
Spanish
Subtitles
English, German
Downloads
Testa (Image)
Testa (Image)
Testa (Image)
Credits
Director
Karl-Heinz Klopf
Concept
Karl-Heinz Klopf
Cinematography
Roman Kasseroller
Sound
Nahuel Palenque
Editing
Tatia Skhirtladze
Sound Mix
Nils Kirchhoff
Animation
Karl-Heinz Klopf
Image Editing
Ernst Miesgang
Colour Correction
Klaus Pamminger
Executive Producer
Virginia Scaro
Production
KLOPFKURZ VIENNA
Co-Producer
Lukas Valenta Rinner
Assistant Director
Virginia Scaro
Assistant
Sigrid Kurz
Supported by
Land Oberösterreich, BKA - innovative film
Available Formats
Digital File (prores, h264)
DCP 2K flat (Distribution Copy)
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Sound Format
5.1 surround
Frame Rate
25 fps
Color Format
colour
Festivals (Selection)
2019
Istanbul - Int. Architecture and Urban Film Festival
Buenos Aires Festival Int. de Cine Independiente BAFICI
Linz - Crossing Europe Film Festival
Jihlava - IDFF East Silver Market
Brasilia – Cinema Urbana, Architecture Film Festiva
Graz - Diagonale, Festival des österreichischen Films
2020
Zürich - VIDEOEXperimental; Video & Film Festival
Regensburg - Kurzfilmwoche
Stuttgart - Filmwinter, Expanded Media Festival
2021
Beograd - BINA Belgrade Int Architecture Week