Mona Lisa

Playful experimental film about one of the most famous, widely reproduced paintings in the world.

High art and everyday life collide in this extremely pithy experimental piece which uses sound and careful framing to lead the viewer on, filmmaker Roger Hewins puncturing the gravitas of the gallery with classic British dry humour. "I hope Mona would have smiled," he said, also reflecting on painting as ubiquitous background decoration.

The original London Filmmaker's Co-op distribution notes for this film permitted two screenings for the price of one and, because the 'punchline' is rather abrupt, viewers have often wanted to watch it twice. As a visual joke that both highlights and deconstructs the power of visual symbols, Mona Lisa was a quietly influential piece among other experimental film work in the early 1980s.