Pierre Trividic, Mario Bernard Xavier Brillat
France 2000 35mm 56min. french o.v. english s-t.

After winning last year’s jury prize with Dancing, the french trio of Patrick Mario Bernard, Pierre Trividic and Xavier Brillat crawl back into our psyches with Ceci est une pipe. "It’s not that porn has no meaning," postulates meditative bear Patrick B. mid-bath, "it’s that things have no meaning. […] Porn proves the world exists and that things in the world are present." He and partner Pierre have accepted participation in a friend’s artistic project: make a film completely from home – a "journal extime" so to speak. The couple becomes hyper-insular, documenting and exposing the intimate corners of their world, all the while exploring the intersections of pornography, art, and meaning. With a skilful blend of straight-up storytelling, experimental techniques and social commentary, Ceci est une pipe succeeds in its complex examination of process with humour, beauty and intelligence. – MP