Often the films of the self proclaimed “very independent” Neue Massen Produktions (comprised of Alexandra Rothert and Sascha Dornhoefer, both professional psychologists) function as sorts of cinematic ink-blotch tests, and “Zunar-J5/9-Dorc-48” is no exception. Following the seemingly distrait protagonist’s cross-town commute, the rest of the film vacillates from his unwavering gaze to shots of the fluctuating mechanisms of the metro—a juxtaposition that curiously aligns the (more) human with the inanimate. The skin of this man becomes the site for an ever-shifting color scheme, eventually disrupted by his decision to ingest a mysterious digital device he has been carrying. With a curious sense of relief, color is restored, and a series of cryptic words flash across the screen. While these motifs serve to impart palpable sense of monotony, paranoia, estrangement, even nausea to the viewer, the film leaves indefinite any narrative structure compelling the viewer to participate in the film by inventing their own possible explanations.

Despite its openness to interpretation and indefinite signification, “Zunar-J5/9-Dorc-48” is evidently the result of painstaking production process. The German duo of Neue Masse prides themselves on being “modern day film-auteurs” with complete creative control over every aspect of their work. From Dornhoefer’s comprehensive writing and storyboard layout, to Rothert’s immaculate post-production, the film-makers labored toward a definite vision of their final product. Precisely editing the film on a track by The Aphex Twin (the actual score was to be composed later), Rothert endowed the “Zunar-J5/9-Dorc-48” with a distinct rhythm. The cadence of the film’s sequencing and the unyielding beat of Jörg Hüttner’s electronic score coalesce in an erratic multilayered pulse that drives the film forward. While the content of “Zunar-J5/9-Dorc-48” intrigues, the craftsmanship truly impresses.

The technical innovation and bizarre vision of “Zunar-J5/9-Dorc-48” together transform a five-minute train ride into mesmerizing voyage charted somewhere between the psychedelic and science-fiction. Disoriented by its abstract imagery and jostling fluidity, the viewer of “Zunar-J5/9-Dorc-48” may be quite unsure of what they just have witnessed, but one thing is certain: they will have been completely absorbed by the short-film’s hypnotic rhythm.