Could a Japanese fairy tale meets commedia dell'Arte?
Kenneth Anger directed this film in the style of both mime and Kabuki theatre. The title refers to the Japanese myth about a rabbit on the moon.
He used a rich pancultural texture of myth to explain his own psychological condition in Rabbit's Moon. Pierrot was based on Crowley's tarot card of the Fool, which meant divine inspiration
in spiritual or creative matters, but folly, mania, or death in everyday affairs, and the moon in Crowleyan terms representing the female principal.
The story focuses on Pierrot trying to obtain the unattainable moon. Harlequin appears and bullies him, then uses a magic lantern to project an image of Columbine. Pierrot tries to court the illusory Columbine unsuccessfully, then enters a mystical moon-realm from which he returns dead.
Harlequin appears and entertains Pierrot with sword play, juggling, and dance. Pierrot remains distraught, so Harlequin summons Columbina to help uplift Pierrot.
You can buy The Films of Kenneth Anger, Vol. 1
and The Films of Kenneth Anger, Vol. 2
.
Kenneth Anger directed this film in the style of both mime and Kabuki theatre. The title refers to the Japanese myth about a rabbit on the moon.
He used a rich pancultural texture of myth to explain his own psychological condition in Rabbit's Moon. Pierrot was based on Crowley's tarot card of the Fool, which meant divine inspiration
in spiritual or creative matters, but folly, mania, or death in everyday affairs, and the moon in Crowleyan terms representing the female principal.
The story focuses on Pierrot trying to obtain the unattainable moon. Harlequin appears and bullies him, then uses a magic lantern to project an image of Columbine. Pierrot tries to court the illusory Columbine unsuccessfully, then enters a mystical moon-realm from which he returns dead.
Harlequin appears and entertains Pierrot with sword play, juggling, and dance. Pierrot remains distraught, so Harlequin summons Columbina to help uplift Pierrot.
You can buy The Films of Kenneth Anger, Vol. 1
and The Films of Kenneth Anger, Vol. 2.
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