Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman December 9, 2020

Note: This film is available as part of Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Two Takes by William Greaves.

Maybe some of you have done the fun if perhaps slightly unsettling approximation of “infinity” by standing in front of a large mirror while holding another mirror in your hand aimed at the larger mirror. If you can line everything up just the right way, you can get an ostensibly never ending trail of reflections within reflections, giving a perhaps apt visual analog for the sleight of hand William Greaves attempts to pull off in his pair of exorbitantly named features, Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One and Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take 2 ½. Poised rather precariously if ultimately artfully between documentary and narrative approaches, Greaves' films explore the supposed filming of traditional fictional narratives, but with at least one layer (and arguably more than one) of "meta" aspects intruding since the filming is also being filmed by a documentary crew. But, wait, you also get — a second and third crew (in the first film at least) which are tasked with documenting further “strata” of the event from their own incrementally wider perspectives.

The "basic" set up of Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One involves a series of actors auditioning for a pretty histrionic "two hander" that involves some probably patently offensive language about closeted homosexuality, as well as more provocative material involving things like abortion. The auditions are being filmed by a kind of out of control director (William Greaves, checking yet another "meta" box, for those keeping score), whose unorthodox methods include other crews filming him and his crew. Suffice it to say that this outing's general ambience is probably best described by one of the ostensible crew who says they're working on a film with no discernable plot and no discernable ending. It's all very strange, but it's undeniably arresting, especially when Graves goes "full meta" and starts offering split screen sequences that feature people filming people filming people filming people who are performing (with clear shots of the "others" in some of the coverage).

Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of The Criterion Collection with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.34:1. Criterion only provided a check disc for the purposes of this review, and so I'm not privy to any information about the transfer that might be included in the insert booklet, though there is a post-film thanks to Steven Soderbergh along with a brief mention of a restoration done off of a 35mm print. That's important information, though it's also relevant to note this was actually shot on 16mm according to several online sources (including the IMDb). The source element here does show some recurrent damage, especially in the last half hour or so, which is considerably more worn and ragged looking than much of what goes before. Numerous scratches, fleck, dirt and abrasions show up over the course of the presentation. A fairly heavy grain field looks natural and encounters no resolution issues, and the palette is actually rather robust. Detail levels are variable, especially in some of the split screen moments.

Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One features an LPCM Mono track that has a few amplitude and/or mixing issues along the way, which I'm assuming are endemic to the on the fly reel to reel (!) recording that was employed. While occasional background conversations, especially in some of the park scenes, can be slightly masked, the main dialogue is presented cleanly and clearly throughout. Some cool excerpts from the fantastic Miles Davis album "In a Silent Way" are utilized, and sound fine. Optional English subtitles are available.

Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Criterion has packaged both of these films on one disc, and so some of the supplements are not exclusively about just one film.

• Discovering William Greaves (1080i; 1:01:15) is a 2006 piece that features William Greaves and his wife and producing partner Louise Archambault Greaves, along with St. Clair Bourne, Ruby Dee, and Scott MacDonald. This is actually a superb starting point for anyone who is either unacquainted with Greaves (who has had a rather remarkable life and career) or especially the two films in this set.


• Steve Buscemi (1080i; 12:41) is featured in a 2006 interview, where he discusses his interest in the first film and participation in the second.


• Trailer (1080i; 1:20)

Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One is an absolutely riveting examination of notions of reality, fiction, filmmaking and what in this outing is a completely obscured line between documentaries and narrative movies. The underlying scene may well strike some as objectionable, as will Greaves' performance (?) as the director, but I think that's part of what makes this film so peculiarly fascinating. Technical merits are generally solid, and the supplemental piece of Greaves outstanding. Highly recommended.