'This film is an experiment in the cinematic communication of real events without the help of inter-titles, without the help of a story, without the help of theater. This experimental work aims at creating a truly international language of cinema based on its absolute separation from the language of theater and literature.'
This is the text we are presented with at the beginning of Dziga Vertov's "Man with a Movie Camera". For some it may seem like a warning, but for others it is an invitation to something wonderful. Here we have a film from 1929 this is more interesting and fascinating that many of the films today. It is not your typical film, it seems experimental but in a sense the film is a documentary. Although it took him four years to complete it Vertov said he intended the film to be a document of a day in the life of the city, and that is exactly what it is and a whole lot more. The film combines endless images of daily living in a way that gives us the very essence of life itself. From people to machinery to streets to buildings, Vertov creates a love letter to the world by using these images in a perfect montage. The film is pretty much guaranteed to be part of the syllabus of any film history class. This is due to the fact that it is a perfect lesson in how great images are made even better by masterful editing, how composition and juxtaposition can be used to evoke thoughts and emotions, and how less can often be more. I've watched this film many times and I am always amazed by it. Somehow it always feels new and vibrant, as if it were made yesterday. It is a film that has influenced generations of filmmakers and will probably influence countless more. It is a masterpiece and a true testament to the language of cinema and the power of film.
Note: The film is intended to be viewed with music. Vertov never wrote music for the film himself, but he left notes for guidance. Naturally, this has resulted in a variety of musical scores that can be found for the film. None are "official" but a few of the best are by The Cinematic Orchestra, Michael Nyman, and The Alloy Orchestra. You can find these and other versions on YouTube.
This is the text we are presented with at the beginning of Dziga Vertov's "Man with a Movie Camera". For some it may seem like a warning, but for others it is an invitation to something wonderful. Here we have a film from 1929 this is more interesting and fascinating that many of the films today. It is not your typical film, it seems experimental but in a sense the film is a documentary. Although it took him four years to complete it Vertov said he intended the film to be a document of a day in the life of the city, and that is exactly what it is and a whole lot more. The film combines endless images of daily living in a way that gives us the very essence of life itself. From people to machinery to streets to buildings, Vertov creates a love letter to the world by using these images in a perfect montage. The film is pretty much guaranteed to be part of the syllabus of any film history class. This is due to the fact that it is a perfect lesson in how great images are made even better by masterful editing, how composition and juxtaposition can be used to evoke thoughts and emotions, and how less can often be more. I've watched this film many times and I am always amazed by it. Somehow it always feels new and vibrant, as if it were made yesterday. It is a film that has influenced generations of filmmakers and will probably influence countless more. It is a masterpiece and a true testament to the language of cinema and the power of film.
Note: The film is intended to be viewed with music. Vertov never wrote music for the film himself, but he left notes for guidance. Naturally, this has resulted in a variety of musical scores that can be found for the film. None are "official" but a few of the best are by The Cinematic Orchestra, Michael Nyman, and The Alloy Orchestra. You can find these and other versions on YouTube.