(thoughts in response to Realism as a Style in Cinema Verite: A Critical Analysis of Primary)
The fact that cinema verite was such a surprise to the film community is somewhat perplexing. Considering the field ‘revolutionary’ certainly is a strange way of viewing the ‘discovery’ of the style of filmmaking known as cinema verite.
A brief encounter with the history of filmmaking leads one rapidly to the first major public display that was simply a train barreling towards the camera. Following this were other such basic documentations as the Lumiere Actualities, where situations just as they were became ingrained in film forever.
Mostly, it seems, because of a lack of portability, narrative structure took place predominately in the studio setting with a tripod-prone camera. The invention of a more portable technology led to the capability of on-location shoots and eventually to the idea of following someone around with a lens aimed the whole way. This act of following someone around would be the basic idea behind cinema verite.
The intelligence in Robert Drew’s approach is that he followed individuals who were so wrapped up in their present situations that mentally addressing the presence of the camera was an internal energy that they didn’t have much extra to expel, being so concerned with the complications of the present moment. This isn’t to say that he received a wholly truthful rendition of each present moment, because anything will change upon being directly observed, especially when it involves a camera lens consistently being shoved in one’s face and especially when one is dealing with politicians who are genuinely affected by the public’s opinion of them.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Cinema Verite also had a profound effect on independent filmmakers. One in particular was John Cassevettes. he adopted the style of Cinema Verite in his films and started a new wave of films in cinema tat would inspire many great filmmakers to come. I think Cinema Verite works better in fictional film than in documentary because a documentary should be explained. There should be a voice over or narrator helping the viewer along because 7 out of every 10 viewers will not understand otherwise. There is no argueing the average viewers lack of attention, which is why Hollywood films are so successful.
Post a Comment