STAÂTIONS OF THE ELÂEÂVATÂED (1979) is an asÂtonÂishÂingÂly beauÂtiÂful film about grafÂfiÂti-covÂered trains hurtling through a strange urÂban landÂscape of a deÂcayÂing civÂiÂlizaÂtion. The muÂsic of Charles MinÂgus counÂterÂpoints the reÂcurÂring viÂsuÂal riffs of the tenÂsion-filled imÂagery. "A beauÂtiÂfulÂly phoÂtographed study... (MinÂgus') muÂsic is comÂposed like a seÂries of city still-lifes. CerÂtain imÂages linger: the batÂtered train readÂing 'HeavÂen is Life, Earth is Hell,' rumÂbling through the South Bronx, or a smilÂing billÂboard face fragÂmentÂed by the shadÂowy strucÂture of the BrookÂlyn Bridge."
Documentary