21-87

21-87 is an experimental short film made in 1964 by Arthur Lipsett, a renowned name in the world of avant-garde cinema. The film is an intricate collage of discarded footage from the National Film Board of Canada, where Lipsett once worked, mixed with Lipsett’s own original audio recordings. As an emblematic title in the Canadian underground film tradition, 21-87 is recognized for its groundbreaking style and innovative editing techniques that left an indelible mark on the art of filmmaking.

The film unfolds in roughly 10 minutes of juxtaposed images and sounds—sometimes disjointed, often rapid, and always intriguing. Without following a conventional narrative, 21-87 presents a raw, surreal, and often disturbing collection of images. The film is devoid of characters or plot in the traditional sense and is purely an abstract meditation on life, functioning more as an experimental documentary.

Lipsett’s editing is the chief catalyst in the film, disciplining the chaos of visuals into a moving poem of modernity. Mixing the profound and the trivial, the grim and the humorous, the resonant materials rendered by Lipsett coexist in a tension-filled symbiosis, emphasizing the paradoxes of life. The seamlessness of different shots creates surrealistic images, projecting a collage of urban life filled with desolation, loneliness, and fashion, coupled with moments of joy, paradox, and absurdity.

The audio of 21-87 is equally crucial in shaping its unique appeal. The soundscape is a collage much like the visuals—spliced voices from interviews and random chatter blend with music, creating a synchronous yet cacophonous harmony. The audio strips were taken from conversations, street sounds, public spaces, and media broadcasts. The sound and visuals often misalign, contributing to the film’s overall sense of disjointedness and randomness that ultimately signifies the madness of modern existence. Layer upon layer of sound and vision are woven together to produce a symphony of discordance that leaves an unforgettable impression on the viewer.

21-87 doesn’t come without controversy, and its experimental nature, abstraction, and disjunction were often seen as avant-garde barriers limiting its accessibility to audiences. Nevertheless, the movie gained recognition for its cinematic technique and innovative presentation, earning Lipsett several awards and critical acclaim. Most notably, 21-87 left a remarkable impact on filmmaker George Lucas, who was deeply inspired by this film. Lucas even referenced "21-87" in his Star Wars movies, using the numeric idiom to describe "The Force" and even naming one character's unit as 21-87.

Overall, 21-87 is a sensory stimulus, a tumultuous journey through the subversive and the banal, a challenging viewing experience that oscillates between the real and the surreal. Arthur Lipsett manages to weave together unrelated shots and sounds into a single piece of art that explores the individual in the sprawling metropolis, the chaos of modern life, and the paradoxes of civilization. With its unique form and vision, 21-87 remains a significant entry in the annals of experimental cinema — a testament to Lipsett’s genius and the transformative power of film as an expressive medium.