Jonas Mekas crafts an avant-garde portrait of despair and hope in the shadows of New York.
GUNS OF THE TREES
A depressed woman, Barbara, is on the verge of suicide while a man she meets in a church and a married couple try to convince her that life is worth living.
Quick Answer
Guns of the Trees is a 1961 American drama film directed by Jonas Mekas about a depressed woman named Barbara, who is on the verge of suicide while a man she meets in a church and a married couple try to convince her that life is worth living.
Programmer's Pick
Jonas Mekas swaps the usual B-movie bombast for raw, poetic introspection, serving up existential dread with avant-garde flair. This is experimental cinema where street protests and references to Artaud mingle with the ache of a woman on the edge.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Details & Specs
- Director
- Jonas Mekas
- Writer
- Jonas Mekas
- Release
- 1961
- Runtime
- 1h 25m
- Country
- United States of America
- Language
- English
- Genres
- Drama
Why This Matters
Directed by Jonas Mekas, this film brings together notable avant-garde figures, including Allen Ginsberg reading his poetry and George Maciunas in a cameo, and features an original score by Lucia Dlugoszewski, highlighting its connections to the 1960s experimental art scene.
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
The film employs experimental and independent film techniques, pushing the boundaries of conventional narrative cinema.
Barbara's emotional struggle is at the heart of the film, offering a raw exploration of depression and the search for meaning.
The story unfolds in New York City, layering the urban setting with the characters' internal turmoil.
References to figures like Antonin Artaud and Fidel Castro intertwine with the narrative, situating the film within its era's intellectual ferment.
Scene Gallery
Questions from the Vault
When was Guns of the Trees released? +
Guns of the Trees was released in 1961.
Who directed Guns of the Trees? +
Jonas Mekas directed Guns of the Trees.
How long is Guns of the Trees? +
Guns of the Trees has a runtime of 85 minutes.
What genre is Guns of the Trees? +
Guns of the Trees is a drama film.
