Classical Period

What are a few references among friends? But for Cal and his circle, it’s hardly a few. They barely conduct a single conversation that doesn’t revolve around architecture, literature, theology, history. Each set of ideas leads seamlessly into the next, until the flow they form is endless, there are always more footnotes, theoretical perspectives, cantos, translations to cite, so many ways of keeping everyday life at bay. When Cal, Evelyn, Chris et al. exchange all this absurdly specific knowledge, they do so with such earnest relentlessness that it’s hard to suppress a smile, although melancholy is never far away. Cal is frequently by himself, turning pages in silence in shadowy rooms, while Evelyn paces the streets of Philadelphia when she can’t sleep, at night, alone. Even when the group gets together, they often remain apart in the frame with no wider shot to connect them, one face holds forth, another stays silent, are they even in the same place at all? Evelyn wishes it were possible to speak more directly, but perhaps that’s the defining feature of the period, not the classical one, this one. You speak, you listen, there’s nothing in between.
by Ted Fendt
with Calvin Engime, Evelyn Emile, Sam Ritterman, Christopher Stump, Michael Carwile
USA 2018 English 62’ Colour

With

  • Calvin Engime (Cal)
  • Evelyn Emile (Evelyn)
  • Sam Ritterman (Sam)
  • Christopher Stump (Chris)
  • Michael Carwile (Michael)

Crew

Written and Directed by Ted Fendt
Cinematography Sage Einarsen
Editing Ted Fendt
Sound Design Daniel D'Errico
Sound Sean Dunn
Production Design Britni West
Producers Graham Swon, Ted Fendt

World sales

Ted Fendt

Produced by

Graham Swon

Ted Fendt

Ted Fendt

Born in Philadelphia, USA in 1989. He works as a filmmaker and translator.

Filmography

2012 Broken Specs; 6 min. 2013 Travel Plans; 7 min. 2014 Going Out; 8 min. 2016 Short Stay; 61 Min., Forum 2016 2017 Study with Book; 1 min. 2018 Classical Period

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2018