Better Living Through Circuitry *** Not rated Seventh Art Releasing 85 minutes featuring The Crystal Method, DJ Spooky, Psychic TV, Electric Skychurch, Carl Cox, Moby, Wolfgang Flur, DJ Keoki, Frankie Bones, Meat Beat Manifesto, Atomic Babies, Scanner, Pure Children, BT written by Jon Reiss, Stuart Swezey, Brian McNelis directed by Jon Reiss
A Review by Akiva Gottlieb You know it's the year 2000 when the most significant form of teenage musical rebellion involves the embrace of technology and, dare I say, materialism. `Better Living Through Circuitry' is the perfect title for the first film to document rave culture, because it inadvertently hints at why the scene may have a shelf life. As long as there are new advances in the digital world, the music will keep bumpin', the drugs will keep floating, and the newest breed of DJ's will continue to preach their gospel through the language of music. Rave, the biggest underground party scene in the world, has moved above ground, and no one is quite sure when the `comedown' will begin.
Jon Reiss' `Better Living Through Circuitry' is an insightful commercial for rave culture; a collection of interviews with major stars of the rave world, some of whom (Moby, Crystal Method) have gone on to become major international bestsellers. Reiss also talks to kids in the scene, who explain how their subculture is about `rebelling against being pissed off.' How could any parent disapprove?
Well, it takes a while for the film to get into the most controversial aspect of the all-night rave parties; the incessant use of hallucinogenic drugs. Ecstasy, a `happy' drug, is the most common choice among ravers. Thankfully, `Circuitry' gives a clear anti-drug message, with party kids claiming that the music and energy of a rave is enough to bring on euphoria.
Rave culture is so powerful that, to some, it is almost a religious experience. One look at the faces of the folks dancing the night away and it is clear that it's about more than just the music. The bouncing beats and electronically charged rhythm provide an ironic helping of soul food for today's disaffected youth. It's not just the `happy drug' that puts these kids in a trance.
`Better Living Through Circuitry' is directed with a style that emulates the `empowerment through technology' theme of rave culture. `Circuitry' was filmed with a small Sony VX1000 digital video camera, which director Jon Reiss took into raves in a backpack. All post-production was performed using various programs on a Power Macintosh computer.
`Better Living Through Circuitry' is being released on the heels of the criminally under-seen rave flick `Human Traffic', and is an effective `digital odyssey' which adds new understanding to my limited knowledge of the booming underground youth culture. The film doesn't give the viewer the rush that one could get at a rave, but Reiss' camera takes you deeper into the lifestyle than you may ever want to be.
Akiva Gottlieb critical66@yahoo.com http://pictureshow.8m.com
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