Wax or the Discovery of Television Among the Bees

Wax or the Discovery of Television Among the Bees, directed and written by David Blair and starring Father Bessarion, David Blair himself, and the legendary William S. Burroughs, is a truly unique piece of cinema from 1991 that has often been described as an avant-garde cult classic. Swaying between surrealist fiction, experimental documentary, and visionary narrative, the film unfolds a complex and multi-layered story, portraying an alternate reality, magnetizing audiences with its beguiling oscillation between the familiar and alien, the ordinary and the extraordinary.

David Blair is Jacob Maker, a beekeeper who works for the Department of Defense in New Mexico. He follows in the footsteps of his grandfather, James "Hive" Maker, the first in the family line of apiculturists, and one who sought to develop a strain of bees capable of navigating more instinctively. A World War I veteran, James also notably invented "Beeswax Television," a death broadcast intended for those who have died in wars.

Jacob’s physical universe is a military surveillance compound, where weapons are monitored and calibrated. In this high-tech desert landscape, bees act as mediators, flying between human technology and the natural world. Curiously, television communicates with the bees, speaking the secret bee language shared also by humans in a telepathic, post-mortem state.

Jacob’s virtual universe, on the other hand, alternates between his technologically mediated relationship with his bees at home and his hallucinatory journeys into the hive. His subconscious journey begins when he is accidentally stung by a bee, an event which sends him into a disorienting, transcendental experience. Much of the film revolves around these mesmerizing trips, in which Jacob interfaces with an alternate reality, or perhaps sub-reality.

The narrative unfolds dream-like, intentionally blurring the boundary lines between reality and fantasy, past and future, science and mysticism. Its presentation reflects a keen fascination for the implications of modern technology, questioning the nature of human consciousness in the blinkered reality that technology often fabricates.

William S. Burroughs, an acclaimed writer and poet, makes a special appearance in the film as James 'Hive' Maker. An influential figure in 20th-century literature, Burroughs adds another layer of intrigue to the thought-provoking narrative.

The film offers a scene of exceptional visual impact, wearing a dual coat of minimalistic industrial landscapes and vividly surreal dreamscapes. Each frame is diligently crafted, leveraging the convergence of computer graphics and hand-shot footage to realize the vision of David Blair. The exploration of various themes – entomology, technology, war, spirituality, and death - requires a unique visual narrative, one which Blair flawlessly crafts and articulates.

Wax or the Discovery of Television Among the Bees is also renowned for its thoughtful and experimental use of sound, creating an atmospheric audio-visual landscape that effectively enhances the mood of the narrative. The imagery is often accompanied by eerie soundscapes, or a mechanical voice speaking in the cadences of hypnotic poetry.

Though first released in 1991, Wax or the Discovery of Television Among the Bees was digitally restored and re-released in 2018 by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It achieves a critical place in history as the first film uploaded to the internet, pioneering the future of online movie streaming, long before the concept of digital distribution had become commonplace.

A film like Wax or the Discovery of Television Among the Bees isn't one to be merely watched; it is designed to be experienced and interpreted. For viewers who value thought-provoking imagery, complex narratives, and are seekers of experimental film, embarking on Jacob Maker's journey promises to be an unforgettable experience. The film might seem a blurred dream, cryptic and challenging, but it is at the same time a work of art that navigates the fine line between cinema and poetry. It invites viewers to engage, prompting introspection and discussion about the melding worlds of technology, nature, and consciousness.