This little film is as short as it is fun. Taris starts out as a lesson in how to swim, but Vigo is soon doing underwater shots showing Taris’ technique from below as well as well as above water shots showing the technique from the surface. There is a beauty in the shots as well as instruction. There is also some fun as the champion swimmer Taris manages a few cute gestures like reclining on the pool floor as the narration is giving advice. And Vigo plays with film technique by running a diving clip backwards and forwards, creating a humorous effect as well as instructional one.
Restrained in most of the film, Vigo’s wit breaks totally free at the end of Taris, as the swimmer is suddenly wearing a top coat and hat and, thanks to a double exposure, appears to walk out on the water. Then down into it. It’s as though Vigo simply couldn’t control the pleasure he had in using the medium and just cut loose.
I doubt this is a groundbreaking film, though it goes far beyond an instructional short. I’d be interested to see how it matches up with other sports documentaries of the era like Triumph of the Will. And it was fun to see this just before I watched L’Atalante, which includes a pivotal scene that is similar to the footage in this film.
Taris is a nice taste of Vigo.
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