The Third Day: Autumn live event review, Culture Whisper
Because Sky and Punchdrunk have marketed The Third Day on its blurred lines between reality and fantasy, their momentous, live, 12-hour episode can’t make any mistakes. Even if there are errors in the production (commendably, only a few happen) they can be justified as part of its distorted fiction. But despite these easy, meta-narrative solutions, Autumn proves a tranquil, ponderous and baffling experience.
Although this episode was meticulously planned, the live aspect creates an uneasy, unpredictable atmosphere. It allows spontaneous details to supply the ambience. This is apparent right away, as the Camera – appearing like a concerned, phantom protagonist – slowly crosses the wet causeway to Osea island. The shapes of the clouds, the drizzle on the lens, the songs of the seagulls – these elements can’t be precisely managed.
It’s the perfect introduction to what lies ahead. Since the Camera is meant to be (or appears to be) a 12-hour continuous shot, this half-hour journey across the causeway unfolds in full. And this is the least difficult scene of nothing happening.
