Desert in Shape (Lost Short experimental film; 1992) (Unreleased Toni Oswald movie, 1992)

Still Image of John Frusciante acting as Niandra LaDes

Status: Partially found

Comment: Only a few frames were found, but the whole movie remains in possesion in a handful of people.

Tags: frusciante red hot chili peppers experimental weird music surrealism marcel duchamp toni oswald

Desert in Shape is a 17-minute experimental, surrealistic film shot around 1992 (exact date unknown) and directed by Toni Oswald. The film was shown only in galleries and at The Viper Room in Los Angeles but never received an official release. It stars Oswald's ex-boyfriend, John Frusciante—the guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers—portraying Marcel Duchamp's alter ego, Rose Sélavy. Information on the movie is limited, mostly gathered from interviews with Frusciante and Oswald.

Context

The conception of the movie began during the Blood Sugar Sex Magik tour, as Oswald followed Frusciante through Europe. She got the idea after experiencing recurring dreams during the tour, drawing inspiration from the work of Marcel Duchamp, whom both she and Frusciante admired. At the time, Frusciante was also working on his debut solo album, Niandra Lades & Usually Just a T-Shirt, which would later be released in 1994. The creative processes behind both the album and the movie remain unclear, as Oswald and Frusciante were creating together and inspiring each other. The album cover even features a still from the film, showing Frusciante dressed as Niandra LaDes, a character inspired by Duchamp’s alter ego, Rose Sélavy. Two tracks from Frusciante's second album (“Enter a Uh” and “For Air”), along with a rendition of “O Nume Tutalar,” were also used in the movie.

Story

The film’s storyline is characteristically surrealistic, directly inspired by recurring dreams Toni Oswald had while traveling in Europe during the Blood Sugar Sex Magik tour. Oswald describes the plot as such : "The film is about a girl who is trapped in her own imagination and also in a part of her childhood, and she transfers that into the actual world and then how she manages through the work and philosophy of Marcel Duchamp, she changes herself into a readymade with the help of Niandra LaDes (John) and transforms."

Availability

As of now, only a few people own the film. In 2009, Oswald said she was interested in releasing it, but no further information has surfaced since.

Gallery

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