Man With a Movie Camera

Huey McEvoy

What's referred to now as a "gamechanger". What the camera shows (and how the editing presents it), seems so fresh that it's incredible to think this was the first time many of these techniques were used. But more than a film school boxticker, it's a very moving, witty and successful account of A Day In The Life of the ordinary and the extraordinary. (The version scored by Cinematic Orchestra is highly recommended).

anarresti

Such a wonderful thing that this alien genius piece of art was produced when cinema was still quite young. And, maybe, that makes sense. Because it celebrates all the potential the art form had at the time, making us watch both the work of a cameraman and be apreciative of his image seeking quest and the edited artfull result. It probably still is one of the most brilliantly edited movies of all times. Timeless?

Richmond Hill

Although this film is not unique or revolutionary in itself, it’s certainly an triumphant coalescence of early technique: striking, experimental, occasionally thrilling but ultimately formless and rather arbitrary. As an encyclopaedia of technique it’s superb; as a coherent whole less so.

Petra Simmons

Should we find ourselves in some godforsaken, post-apocalyptic future, where film is dead and long forgotten, let this be the one surviving print. A Rosetta Stone for the language of cinema. And film would be born again! Having said that (and risking blasphemy) I'm fascinated by the idea of a newer iteration of the project: (Person) with a Digital Camera; the linguistic evolution of film in the post-mechanical world.

Stefan Drees

One of the masterpieces of experimental cinema with some similarities to Walter Ruttmann's "Berlin, die Sinfonie der Großstadt". Nyman's score surely has its strong moments; but it is also problematic because - although like Vertov montage using repetitions, loops and rhythmic shifts - it doesn't match the avantgardism of the incredible movie on the structural level.

Checkpoint Charlie

A early testament to the power and potential of the film camera and its operator's ability in capturing life and refitting it to establish its own frame of mind and, better still, its own essence of being.

Harry Rossi

I think this is one of those films that is more important than it is entertaining, but still has some very interesting stuff. I wish I was a bit more engaged than I was but definitely worth seeing. The camerawork in this film is absolutely spectacular and thats the real reason to see it. However it's very detached which is why I think I wasn't 100% engaged.

Kai White

One of the more unique experiences in film, Vertov (with a huge assist from his brother as the rather acrobatic cameraman) gives us a day in the life of Russia. For good measure, there's also a dancing crawfish. This is the rare film that seeks to turn convention upside down, and I'd say it manages that feat rather gleefully.