Review: Criterion's Latest 'Symbiopsychotaxiplasm' is a One-of-a-Kind Riddle

"Symbiopsychotaxiplasm" is certainly a mouthful, and it makes sense for a work that is as much a riddle as its title suggests. In a truly one-of-a-kind fashion, this documentary within a documentary within a documentary is renowned for its metatextual playfulness, and in 2015 the United States Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry, noting its cultural, historical or aesthetic significance. It has also just been added to The Criterion Collection, so you can take this singular work home and keep it preserved in your own film library.

Cinephiles will likely adore this one, and if you've never seen or heard of it, you're in for a treat. Led by pioneering African-American film director and documentarian William Greaves, a confused collection of film crews are set loose in New York's Central Park. Some are told explicitly what to film. Some are left to figure out what the hell they're doing. Some are just along for the ride.

And through it all, we get a sharp scrutiny on the creative process, as well as an unmatched work of non-fiction filmmaking that blurs genre lines at every opportunity. In "Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One" (1968), Greaves made history, and with 2005's "Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take 2 1/2," he followed up on his initial examinations with added ruminations on technology, time and more.

The Criterion Collection has both takes on this quality collector's item, which features high-definition digital transfers of both films, each approved by director William Greaves. While the films themselves are fascinating enough, it would've been nice to see a tad more behind the scenes footage within the supplemental material.

However, we do get "Discovering William Greaves," a documentary on the filmmaker's career, which is interesting enough. Aside from that, there isn't much more available in the bonus features of interest, albeit an interview from 2006 featuring actor Steve Buscemi. Regardless, this is still a worthy release to pick up if you're interested in documentaries that push the limits.

"Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Two Takes by William Greaves" is now available on The Criterion Collection for $27.96