Those That, at a Distance, Resemble Another (2019)

Those That, at a Distance, Resemble Another: Directed by Jessica Sarah Rinland. With Jessica Sarah Rinland. With an elephant’s tusk as the protagonist, Those That, at a Distance, Resemble Another meditates on the endless tactility of conservation.

“I saw this unusual movie at TIFF, where it was presented in the Wavelength category – which is to say, experimental film. Iu0026#39;d be the first to admit Iu0026#39;m not well versed in the art of film, and some of the more avant-garde examples might well go over my head. This one is definitely avant-garde. That being said, it seems to me this movie missed the mark.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eItu0026#39;s filmed in an interesting way, almost entirely close-ups of hands working on restoring or replicating various kinds of antiquities, artifacts, and in one case an elephantu0026#39;s tusk, using techniques from clay moulds to 3-D printing. The tusk images are preceded by beautiful close-ups of an elephantu0026#39;s craggy face, its eye. Voices in conversation music, workroom sounds can be heard but the people themselves arenu0026#39;t seen, only their hands and the items theyu0026#39;re replicating.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe problem is, the film seems to be trying to make a point, but it doesnu0026#39;t even begin to come across through what is seen and heard. It could be intended as an observation about the real as opposed to the imitation, or the original vs the dupicate. It could even have something to do with conservation, relating to the images of an elephant and tusk. I see no way of knowing what the film is trying to say.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDirector Jessica Rinland has a knack for presenting intriguing images; the film actually holds the attention longer than it should without a dramatic plot or discernible theme. I found myself cheering her on, hoping the movie would become less obscure. I suspect she could be an impressive filmmaker if she could bite the bullet and make her message clear to the average viewer.”