When the Pie Was Opened

Surrealism, avant-garde sound montage, and irreverent wit might be the last thing you'd expect from a government-sponsored film about wartime cookery. But director, artist, animator and all-round firework of a man Len Lye specialised in the unexpected. A simple tale of a mother cheering up her daughter with a pie from her rationing-stricken pantry (interestingly the war is never directly referred to) is skilfully crafted into a work of real artistic depth, while retaining an unpretentious charm.

• Release date
• January 1, 1941
• Runtime
• 8 min
• Genres
• Documentary, War
• Director
• Len Lye

Cast

V

Valerie Forrest The Girl

H

Hilda Masters The Mother