Water and Power (1989)

Pat ONeill one of the most interesting filmmakers in America today offers a dazzling reflection on the conflict between nature and man in Los Angeles or the desertification of the citys surroundings due to its enormous water consumption More interestingly it is also a film in the ageold tradition of city symphonies a film about LAs foundation myths and the dreams it embodies about its history and grim future its topography and ethnography ONeill uses footage from several classic films to recreate the several layers of meaning emanating from the city juxtaposing images and fantasies and hardly ever allowing one picture to go untouched George Lockwoods swarming soundtrack is likewise composed of conflicting languages an elaborate work of plunderphonics in which snippets of sound stolen from movies collide with electronic soundscapes contemporary chamber music improv and what not