Matthijs Diederiks

Next is a short film by videographer Arnar Ásgeirsson about a train hopping adventure he took with three friends to Germany. One of the friends, Matthijs Diederiks, was present to give a short introduction to the piece and to answer any audience questions. He said that they were inspired to make the film after watching a movie about training hopping in the 50s in the United States. Before embarking on their journey everyone involved utilized special ‘immersion techniques’ for six months that were analogous to method acting in order to get the track mechanics and train conductors on their side.

What followed is what I would call a ‘raw’, home-movie style piece that begins with them sneaking onto the back of a brand new pickup truck on a cargo train in Amsterdam, wind in their hair, sun on their backs, with a bit of the romance flecking away as the train careened onward down the lonely railroad line. We saw vignettes of these young lads getting swilled on wine and beer and jumping on and off trains as they stopped at various unknown destinations, carrying along a meter long white coffin embossed with a cross and a deceased crocodile in tow. Some of the most powerful images came from the landscape itself, whose topology undulated and seemed to pulsate and breath in synchronicity with euro-house and trashy 80s pop that was blasting from their ancient boom box. The boys were jovial and up beet, notwithstanding their interaction with rail workers who appeared to condone their project, technically illegal though it might be. Near the end they jump off the train, the conductor perhaps realizing his stowaway passengers.

Video, 2008, 15,26 min

Shown at L&F Theatrum Anatomicum (06–02–2015)