Sisyphus and The Abraham

An ethical rationalization in contrasting Sisyphus and The Binding of Isaac, from the point of view of an ethical man. A meditation on the Absurd.

  • David Matthew Johnson
    Director
    The Sublime Hubris, Ode to the Whale of Christ
  • David Matthew Johnson
    Writer
    The Sublime Hubris, Ode to the Whale of Christ
  • David Matthew Johnson
    Producer
    The Sublime Hubris, Ode to the Whale of Christ, The Ballad of Cheap Burgundy, Quinn
  • Ryan Anderson
    Key Cast
    "The Abraham"
    The Ballad of Cheap Burgundy
  • Colin Anderson
    Key Cast
    "Isaac"
  • David Matthew Johnson
    Key Cast
    "Sisyphus"
    The Sublime Hubris
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short
  • Runtime:
    30 minutes
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - David Matthew Johnson

David Matthew Johnson, also known as The Octopus, is the award winning director of Ode to The Whale of Christ and The Sublime Hubris. The Octopus is also the founder of the Octopus Marquee. As a filmmaker, The Octopus focuses on creating unique passion projects that allegorically expresses himself. As a producer, The Octopus strives to work with Auteurs to share their vision. As a festival director (of the Octopus Marquee Independent Film Festival), The Octopus focuses on shining a spotlight on underground artists and oddballs who create one of a kind pieces. David Matthew Johnson loves cinema.

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Director Statement

The goal was to take different approaches towards addressing the absurdities of life. Contrasting or at least paralleling Sisyphus and the Binding of Isaac. In the film, we are presented with numbers breaking up the experience. These number show a different telling or explanation, almost as if there was a different editor to the segment trying to explain their thoughts on the absurd through cinema.
The first segment, “The Truth of Abraham” is quicker cuts and slightly brighter. It starts off by being literal as to what happened. Still showing the anxiety of having to kill your miracle son but the submission to higher power beyond what on paper would be moral.
The second part being “an ethical rationalization by an ethic man” is a series of shorts or trying to give stories as to how to address the absurd. Kierkegaard playfully did this with one of his pseudonyms in Fear and Trembling. The editor is almost inserting his way to rationalize how it could still make sense to him. Abraham couldn’t do it or he lied before doing it or he failed, etc. The moments having some form of consequence or unintentionally blow-back as he’s rambling. Those moments are sandwiched between Sisyphus moments of the analogy of pushing a boulder up a hill. Sisyphus in a suit like it’s his job. Camus said “One must imagine Sisyphus happy” so the editor is trying to find the right words or analogy when the first editor just said what happened. Imaginary boulders like our struggle etc. He ends up returning to that but puts Sisyphus in a stairwell to modernize as opposed to the hill. But by this point, the thoughts are faded, blown out, and at a different frame rate.
For the last part it is an editor similar to the first segment “The Truth of Sisyphus” which is a singular (or two with the cut away) long shot of boring work. As if that’s how we relate to the mundane Absurdity of everyday life. And we smile.