France 1973, “Collections privées” (original title), 12 min, colour, French dir Walerian Borowczyk sc Walerian Borowczyk cast André Pieyre de Mandiargues prod Anatole Dauman, Peter Schamoni pc Argos Films, Peter Schamoni Filmproduktion sales Argos Films
A Private Collection is not just a ‘documentary’ on antiquated erotic paraphernalia, but rather a description and reflection on predominantly Western sexual mores. Featuring both a commentary and the guiding hands of surrealist writer André Pieyre de Mandiargues, Borowczyk playfully switches between visual media: perverted sculpture, clandestine painting, belle époque photography, a magic lantern show and (in the alternate ‘hard’ version) a cartoon and archival film.