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On the Passage of a Few Persons Through a Rather Brief Moment In Time
On the Passage of a Few Persons Through a Rather Brief Moment In Time
7.6
/10
151 Ratings

ON THE PASSAGE OF A FEW PERSONS THROUGH A RATHER BRIEF MOMENT IN TIME

Sur le passage de quelques personnes à travers une assez courte unité de temps

Directed by Guy Debord
France, 1959
Documentary, Short

Synopsis

This experimental “anti-documentary” aims to avoid any element worthy of interest by means of showing vague shots, exterior views, and scenes from a soap ad. This is accompanied by protesting voiceover comments drawn from classic thinkers, a science-fiction novel, and the worst pop sociologists.

Synopsis

This experimental “anti-documentary” aims to avoid any element worthy of interest by means of showing vague shots, exterior views, and scenes from a soap ad. This is accompanied by protesting voiceover comments drawn from classic thinkers, a science-fiction novel, and the worst pop sociologists.

Our take

Juxtaposing unvarnished footage of his Situationist peers with newsreels, Guy Debord’s singular short imbues a political urgency to the intimacy of everyday interactions. Mostly shot in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés quarter, the film subtlety questions the Existentialist legacy of this iconic area.