VID REC: RPF (Women's Business) - Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story

[cupidsbow.livejournal.com]

This is my last rec in the Women's Business set. I hope you've enjoyed the ride as much as I have.

Vidder: Todd Haynes
Musical artist: The Carpenters
Pairing: None
Vidder on LJ: None
Vidder's website: None
Why this vid kicks ass: I've heard about this movie on the fannish grapevine for many, many years, and you probably have too. It's the biography of Karen Carpenter acted with barbie dolls. I honestly didn't know what to expect when I finally found this online, but it wasn't to be confronted with something so hard-hitting. The low budget origins of the movie are clear, the picture quality is blurry, but still, this is an extraordinary and genuinely moving piece of work. I can see why it's stayed in the fannish consciousness for so long. Anyone who is a fan of songvids should see this; it's our history, and it's amazing.

The link goes through a site devoted to archiving "illegal" art, and the bandwidth runs out after just a couple of hits, so be prepared to try for this over the next week or so. It's worth the effort.

Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story

Comments

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

Wow. I actually saw a-tape-of-a-tape-of-a-tape-of-a-tape of this once, years back. I'm going to have to get hold of it!

[cupidsbow.livejournal.com]

Isn't it amazing? I really wish is was more widely available.

[phoebesmum.livejournal.com]

I didn't know this was still out there anywhere. I saw it on TV, very late at night, years and years and years ago, probably about the time it was first made, and was greatly impressed. I'd never given Karen Carpenter half a moment's thought before, but this shocked and angered me, as it was meant to do. Thank you for linking it.

[cupidsbow.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome. I hope it stands up, after all this time.

[thepouncer.livejournal.com]

I know you said to keep trying back, but the link is still down. (I've been trying every few days) I'm just wondering if I'm being exceptionally dense - right-click and save as? Click through and see if the form shows me the film available for download?

[cupidsbow.livejournal.com]

I just went there and right-clicked-save-as and it let me with no problems. Are you getting that far? Is it the next part, when it actually tries to download which is the problem?

[thepouncer.livejournal.com]

The download starts, but the file is only a kilobyte. Which is what's been happening. I couldn't find any instructions on the archive homepage (because who knows? maybe it's one of those places where you need to click through three pages and add codes before you get the real download!). Maybe I should try using IE instead of Firefox. *ponders*

[thepouncer.livejournal.com]

In IE, when I right click, save target as, an error message box jumps up saying that the file wasn't found. And if I click through, I get:

Page not found
We’re sorry, the page you have requested is not available.

[cupidsbow.livejournal.com]

That's so annoying. I wish I had server space; I'd just host it myself.

Let me see if I can find another source for you. Just a sec.

[cupidsbow.livejournal.com]

Google vid is playing for me (I know it's more annoying that downloading): http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=622130510713940545

I'm still searching for another download site.

[cupidsbow.livejournal.com]

This seems to be a working BitTorrent, but I've never used that system, so I can't advise you on using it: http://www.mininova.org/tor/528054

[cupidsbow.livejournal.com]

And there seems to be an iPod version hosted at Insane Films: http://insanefilms.com/?p=358

I hope one of these works for you!

[thepouncer.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for tracking down these other links! I was able to get it from bittorrent, and now just have to watch it :)

[cupidsbow.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome. I hope you enjoy it after all this extra effort :)