Man with a Movie Camera
Dziga Vertzov: 1929 Soviet Union
Brian Herron
In the beginning of the film, Man with a Movie Camera states that it is an experiment in the cinematic communication of visible event. It then goes on to explain that the film does not contain sets or actors. It states its main goal of aiming to create an international absolute language of cinema.
The film starts out showing a movie camera in the shot. Then a small man appears on top of the camera setting up a smaller camera. This was an early editing technique that Vertzov used placing two pieces of film over each other to create an illusion. The film then proceeds to show shot of an empty theater and a man setting up a film reel. Latter on in the scene it shows a crowd filling into the theater. In this scene, Vertzov uses a motif of showing theater seats flipping down by itself as if the theater were alive and preparing itself for the crowd. I believe this is to represent people about to watch what is to be shown in the rest of the film.
The film then proceeds to show a woman sleeping in her bed. Then it starts a montage of some posters in her room and then proceeds to a montage of the town around her and the life that’s going on while she is in bed. It appears that it is early in the morning because some of the shots have children sleeping in horse carriages. The man with the movie camera appears again showing him filming in different locations while it cuts back to the woman sleeping in bed.
It then proceeds to showing the woman waking up and cuts to businesses opening up as well, all while the man moves around taking different shots with his camera. The streets start filling up with people and trolleys are moving around everywhere. It then goes on to show the soviet working machine, showing a montage of people working in factories.
I believe this film represents people watching the everyday life of their country and uses a series of shots to show this. It’s as if he is putting a mirror in front of his culture so they can see themselves operating their society. The films goal of creating an international film language succeeds because as a 21st century American, I know exactly what’s going on and what the film is trying to achieve.
1 comment:
"The films goal of creating an international film language succeeds because as a 21st century American, I know exactly what’s going on and what the film is trying to achieve."
I think it is very useful to consider your own experience and ability to understand the film as a barometer, however I'd love to see more details or conjecture as to exactly how the film language is so "successful."
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