19. Jenny Hval: “Conceptual Romance”

Director: Zia Anger

A women dressed in beautiful autumnal clothing bounces on top of a yoga ball. A lady in red runs through a graveyard with a sense of mysterious urgency. People cavort in the nude outside a grand Victorian home. It’s ridiculous to write out, but those are the significant scenes from the “Conceptual Romance” video. You’d be hard pressed to find a unifying thread in director Zia Anger’s work here, but if you’re one for symbolism and theory, there is a lot to ponder. The video responds to all kinds of subversive artistic strategies, from dadaist to situationist, and it’s absurdity is particularly affecting in the way only an exquisite corpse can be. But no matter how many interpretations this clip may invite, there’s no escaping the feeling of pure blissful oddness that comes with every frame. —Kevin Lozano