The Freedom of Uselessness

The Freedom of Uselessness (25-minute cut) is an experimental piece of filmmaking that follows two mothballs, Bubba and Spoiled, as they drift in still water, experiencing time, change and their own existence. Alongside a collection of inanimate objects, the piece follows an untraditional narrative structure with a complete lack of audio and spectacle. Co-directed by Samuel Felinton and Declan Mungovan, this is a condensed 25-minute version of the piece, adapted from the original 100-day version.

The film was entirely influenced by the Taoist principle of Wu Wei, meaning non-doing or effortless action, which is predominantly showcased within its concept and the entirety of the runtime. The idea is also reflective of the virtues of simplicity that Taoism emphasises. It feels entirely sincere in its efforts, with genuine passion from the filmmakers and their execution of this idea in such an ambitious fashion. The complete lack of exposition is an admirable decision, which leaves the audience to perhaps go and research deeper into the Taoist theory and appreciate what the filmmakers were trying to convey more profoundly on repeat viewings. The filmmaker's idea may be seen as a gimmick; however, it's not entirely fair to disregard a piece of art due to its absurd concept. However, the experience falls short due to the lack of a narrative, offering only a minor impact. While the lack of audio is a commendable formal decision, the entire film feels isolating and unengaging as a result. Perhaps a more in-depth look into the Taoist philosophy could have given the viewer more to consider beyond a limited glimpse of experimentation around the Taoist principle of Wu Wei. Despite these issues, the two mothballs are admittedly admirable to look at and endearing additions to the piece.

While the filmmakers have condensed the runtime significantly in this version of the film, the experience still unfortunately feels grating and a chore to sit through intentionally. The central issue with the film is that the viewer is forced to watch two mothballs exist, and there's no meaningful aspect to the narrative apart from the time changing on the clock. Its thin material is the detriment to its selling point and remembrance after the film fades to black. Thankfully, it's a conceptually ambitious piece of filmmaking that requires patience and a willingness to look beyond the conventional narrative structure. If the viewer is willing to commit to this experience, then they may find themselves transfixed by its challenging concept. Samuel Felinton and Declan Mungovan profoundly showcase their talent by tackling complex themes and experimenting with philosophical ideas. The Freedom of Uselessness also goes to show that cinema doesn't always require dialogue or audio to be digestible for an audience and could entirely rest on a single frame.

The Freedom of Uselessness is an ambitious experience with a lack of spectacle or productivity, and experimentation with a conceptually daring idea. While it may suffer from a litany of issues, such as prolonged pacing and offering minor staying power after its conclusion, it's a profoundly sincere piece of filmmaking.