River of Fundament

River of Fundament

Year: 2014

Runtime: 319 min

Language: English

Director: Matthew Barney

This avant-garde film follows two souls on a transformative journey across America. Loosely inspired by Norman Mailer's novel Ancient Evenings, the story intertwines the experiences of a man representing Mailer himself and a mysterious automobile. The narrative blends documentary footage, live performances, and cinematic storytelling to explore themes of rebirth and cultural change, set against the backdrop of urban decay and evolving landscapes.

Dark
Bleak ending
Emotionally heavy
High intensity
Slow pacing
Very complex

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – River of Fundament (2014)

Explore the full timeline and setting of River of Fundament (2014). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The film traverses different periods through flashbacks and contemporary settings, blending mythological tales with modern existential concerns. As characters navigate through their lives and legacies, themes of rebirth and the passage of time underscore their journeys. The narrative intertwines ancient Egyptian mythology with urban life, creating a timeless dialogue between past and present.

Location

Brooklyn Heights, Chrysler dealership in Los Angeles, Detroit, Idaho's Sawtooth Mountain Range

Brooklyn Heights serves as the backdrop for a wake filled with cultural significance, bringing together figures from New York's literary scene. The Chrysler dealership in Los Angeles represents a ritualistic hub reflecting on automotive history and symbolism. Detroit is depicted as a location of mythical reenactment, entwining urban life with ancient narratives. Lastly, Idaho's Sawtooth Mountain Range symbolizes the enduring power of nature as a sanctuary amidst the film's surreal journey.

🏙️ City 🚗 Automobile 🏞️ Nature 🏺 Historical

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:11

Main Characters – River of Fundament (2014)

Meet the key characters of River of Fundament (2014), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Norman I

Norman I traverses the realms between life and death, embodying a complex connection to his past and the spirits surrounding him. His character unveils the challenges of communicating with loved ones and accessing deeper truths. Representing the struggles of fame and legacy, he navigates both envy and companionship in his journey.

👻 Spirit 📚 Legacy 🌌 Otherworldly

Hathfertiti

As a pivotal character, Hathfertiti showcases resilience and depth, balancing her heritage with her magical beliefs. She represents both the burdens of family legacy and the autonomy of personal choice. Her journey culminates in confronting mortality, signifying a profound acceptance of her destiny.

👑 Royalty 🌠 Magic 💔 Mortality

Norman II

Norman II emerges as a shamanistic sorcerer, embodying transformation and mastery over mystical practices. His character represents a bridge between the past and the present, navigating the legacy left by his predecessors. Through profound experiences, he cultivates a deeper understanding of his identity and purpose.

🧙‍♂️ Sorcerer 🌿 Transformation 🌀 Spirituality

Usermare

Usermare's character oscillates between power and despair, representing the challenges of heritage and familial duty. His bittersweet reunion with Hathfertiti highlights the emotional complexities of family ties. Consumed by loss and rejection, he embodies the struggle of letting go of the past.

👑 Pharaoh 🌪️ Conflict 💔 Despair

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:11

Major Themes – River of Fundament (2014)

Explore the central themes of River of Fundament (2014), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🔮 Mysticism

The narrative explores themes of mysticism through the characters' reliance on sacred practices for wisdom and power. The use of feces as a medium for gaining insight reflects the surreal and often grotesque aspects of spirituality. As characters traverse between life and the spiritual realm, they grapple with their choices and the legacies they inherit.

🌌 Identity

Identity is a crucial theme as characters like Norman III struggle with their sense of self amidst the shadows of their predecessors. The intertwining of personal and familial identities highlights the impact of legacy on one's journey. As the lineage faces existential challenges, the quest for understanding and acceptance becomes central to their portrayal.

👑 Family Legacy

The film delves deep into the intricacies of family legacy, showcasing the bonds and conflicts that arise across generations. Characters like Hathfertiti embody the struggle between heritage and personal beliefs, ultimately making choices that define their paths. The dramatic showdown between familial loyalties encapsulates the tensions inherent in preserving one's lineage.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 21:11

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Experimental ritual films like River of Fundament

Avant-garde films where symbolic acts and intense imagery explore death and rebirth.For viewers who appreciated the intense ritualism of River of Fundament. This list features movies like River of Fundament that use avant-garde techniques, symbolic reenactments, and immersive soundscapes to explore deep themes of transformation and decay in a similar, challenging style.

ritualistictranscendentoppressivedreamlikesymbolicconfrontationalsombermythological

Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread are often circular or fragmented, structured around powerful symbolic acts rather than linear plots. They follow characters or entities through transformative ordeals, exploring concepts of death, rebirth, and legacy through a lens of artistic ritual. The journey is internal and metaphysical as much as it is external.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together because they share a commitment to avant-garde expression, a focus on ritual as a narrative device, and a willingness to use intense, often graphic, imagery to provoke deep contemplation on existential themes. They create a unique, immersive, and demanding viewing atmosphere.

Bleak epic journeys like River of Fundament

Slow, heavy films where journeys through decaying landscapes reveal a bleak destiny.If you were captivated by the heavy, decaying atmosphere of River of Fundament, explore these similar movies. Find other slow-paced, emotionally heavy films with bleak endings that paint epic visions of urban decay, failed legacies, and the grim cycles of life and death.

decayingsomberoppressivebleakepicheavypessimisticfunereal

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread are often sprawling and complex, mapping a character's journey against a backdrop of pronounced decay—be it urban, societal, or personal. The narrative arc typically leads to the dissolution of hope, the collapse of ambition, and a final, unflinching acceptance of a bleak and inevitable end, leaving a profound sense of heaviness.

Why These Movies?

These movies are united by their shared focus on decay as a central theme, their emotionally heavy and slow-burn presentation, and their commitment to a bleak and unambiguous ending. They create a powerful, somber mood that lingers, offering a coherent experience of profound pessimism and thematic weight.

Unlock the Full Story of River of Fundament

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River of Fundament Summary

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River of Fundament Summary

River of Fundament Timeline

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River of Fundament Timeline

River of Fundament Spoiler-Free Summary

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River of Fundament Spoiler-Free Summary

More About River of Fundament

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River of Fundament (2014) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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River of Fundament (2014) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow