Zoo | Short film | Bert Haanstra | 1961
Albert 'Bert' Haanstra (1916 – 1997) was a Dutch director of films and documentaries. In Zoo, Haanstra and cameraman Anton van Munster filmed with a hidden camera to see how people behave in different situations and environments, without the self-consciousness created by the camera. They concealed the camera in a huge shopping bag, and hid their equipment in bushes, and built sheds with one-way glass. Haanstra observed the Dutch with compassion and wit, and they emerged as people with a sense of sorrow and joy, religion and individualism and, above all, freedom. Nearly 60 years later, Canadian musician Isaac Vallentin (1993 - ) has re-scored the short film with improvised music for prepared guitar from his album Looking at Animals (E-Tron Records, 2018).
In creating this conceptual poster for Bert Haanstra's iconic short film "ZOO" (1961), I was deeply inspired by the film's exploration of perspectives – a theme that resonates profoundly with both human and animal experiences.
In "ZOO," Haanstra ingeniously captures the dual perspectives of animals and humans within the confines of a zoo. Animals observe humans through the bars of their enclosures, while humans, in turn, gaze at the animals from their side of the barriers. This interplay of viewpoints fascinated me and served as the foundation for my creative process.
As I crafted this poster, I sought to encapsulate the essence of this perspective shift. The imagery juxtaposes the perspectives of humans and animals, symbolized by the bars that separate them. Through subtle visual cues, I aimed to evoke a sense of introspection, inviting viewers to contemplate the interconnectedness of all living beings and the boundaries that shape our perceptions.
By infusing the poster with elements that reflect the thematic depth of "ZOO," I endeavored to offer viewers a glimpse into the thought-provoking narrative woven by Haanstra. It is my hope that this poster serves as both a homage to the timeless brilliance of the film and a catalyst for reflection on the complex relationship between humans and the natural world.
