Looking for Alfred
Directed by Johan Grimonprez, 2004
Main Info
Short fiction, Belgium-UK
10’, 35mm/DVCam, 3:4 letterbox, stereo, colour
Synopsis
“I thought I was safe until you guys came along, digging up all those others Hitchcock look-alikes. Now we will have to find ways of disposing of them...” – Ron Burrage, professional Hitchcock look-alike.
What’s your favorite Hitchcock film?
Obsessed with de/reconstructing our corrupted visions of media, celebrity and appearance, Johan Grimonprez assembled a bewildering gaggle of Hitchcock lookalikes, staggering in girth and exacting in attitude, in a quest to find the most accurate specimen. The extent of such an endeavour is matched only by its fiendish yet stylish plot – recording them both in and out of character – whilst the would-be dopplegangers replay a selection of the trademark cameo appearances that Hitch made in his own flicks. The result could be seen as a dethroning of the Master of Suspense or as a celebration of iconography. Just don’t take a shower before you see it!
Credits
Written and directed by Johan Grimonprez
Hitchcock look-alikes José Bouchat, Ron Burrage, Erik Grimonprez, Bruce Ho, Zale Kessler, Roger Swaine
Hitchcock soundalike Mark Perry, Tippi Hedren, Delfine Bafort
Additional hitchcocks David Adler, John Barrett, Simon Fischer-Becker, Stephen Guy Daltry, Peter Mair, Bill Moody, Richard Rycroft, Frank Scantori
Director of photography Martin Testar
Soundscape by Dominique Pauwels
Original music by Bernard Herrmann
Chief Editor Nicolas Bacou
Produced by Emmy Oost for Zapomatik, Steven Bode for Film & Video Umbrella
Associate produced by Corinne Castel for Anna Sanders Films
In association with Anna Sanders Films, Palais des Beaux-Arts Bruxelles and The Photographers' Gallery
Made possible by the Flanders Audiovisual Fund, Arts Council England and the Ministry of Culture, Image/Mouvement (Centre National des Arts Plastiques-Paris)
Additional support from Deitch Projects, Riksutstillinger - The National Touring Exhibitions Norway, Yvon Lambert Gallery, Media Space Inc., Victoria, Gent and Productiehuis Rotterdamse Schouwburg
Awards
ZKM / Center for Art and Media (DE), 2005 Winner International Media Award
Artfilmbiennale, Cologne 2005, International Competition Special mention of the Film Critics Jury
EMAF / European Media Art Festival (DE), 2006 Winner of the European Media Award
