SYNOPSIS
A cinematographic composition of three distinct elements: scenes of the German band Kreidler (Thomas Klein, Alexander Paulick, Andreas Reihse, Detlef Weinrich) at work on their album ¡°ABC¡± in a recording studio in Tbilisi, Georgia, 26 densely filled notebooks of Emigholz, and shots of anonymous buildings and streets in Tbilisi.
REVIEW
2+2=22 [The Alphabet] showcases the German quartet Kreidler, formed in 1994 and renowned for their avant-garde yet sophisticated electronic music. The film's genesis stems from a fruitful collaboration between the band and director Heinz Emigholz, which began when Emigholz directed music videos for their 2012 album "Den." Notably, the video for "Moth Race," featuring footage from Emigholz's The Airstrip, won the "German Music Video Award" at the Oberhausen International Short Film Festival. This partnership led to Kreidler providing soundtracks for many of Emigholz's subsequent works. 2+2=22 [The Alphabet] primarily documents Kreidler working on their album "ABC" in a Tbilisi, Georgia studio. While the premise might initially evoke comparisons to Jean-Luc Godard's One + One (1968), which captured The Rolling Stones in rehearsal, Emigholz's distinct cinematic style quickly dispels such associations. Emigholz's signature elements are evident throughout: tilted portraits of anonymous Tbilisi buildings, relics of the Soviet era; juxtaposed landscapes of wood and concrete; voiceover readings of texts; and Emigholz's own notes, subtly revealing his dual identity as illustrator and thinker. The film's title, 2+2=22 [The Alphabet] invites viewers to see "2" not as a sum yielding "4," but as a symbol within a larger visual collage. This approach reflects the collage aesthetics that Emigholz has long pursued in his work. 2+2=22 [The Alphabet] is part of Emigholz's ongoing "Photography and Beyond" series and marks the first entry in his "Streetscapes" series.