SYNOPSIS

1968. Central Park, New York City. A director and his crew are shooting a scene for a movie. The scene involves a bitter argument between a young married couple - Freddie and Alice. In a fit of rage, Alice accuses her husband of being unfaithful - and gay. The director shoots and re-shoots the same scene from multiple angles in various locations throughout the park. But the melodrama of a failed marriage that is taking place in front of the camera is only part of the story. The "real" action is taking place behind and "off" camera. Multiple cameras capture the reactions of the actors, the director, an increasingly disenchanted crew and various mystified onlookers.

35 years later. The aging director is back in Central Park filming the same actors playing the same roles. Alice and Freddie have gone their separate ways. Alice is now a successful, if somewhat fading, cabaret singer; Freddie a much-in-demand group therapist. It is a beautiful fall day. The New York City Marathon is about to begin and all looks well as they meet for the first time since their bitter break-up 35 years earlier. It is obvious that they both want to bury the bitter past. But the director has other ideas.

Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take 2 1/2 uses multiple cameras, mixes cinema verite and conventional shooting styles, as well as improvisation and scripted dialog to observe and reflect upon the creative aspects of the filmmaking process. Greaves sees the film as an attempt to explore the dividing line between reality and fiction.




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