Unspoken Cinema

  "a celebration of the art and philosophy of slow cinema" https://www.facebook.com/mindanaoslow/

"EIGHT BRIDGES is, by turns, meditative and contemplative. By asking us to remember and enjoy the fundamental pleasure of cinema, within the continual barrage of commercial advertising and of films/shows made and marketed for easy consumption, plus continual Capitalist overloading of our perceptual faculties, exacerbated by the expanding (and visually contracting) dominance of cellphones, and the concerning political tension between Europe and Trump’s “MAGA” America, Benning offers an extended moment, if not of therapy, at least of quiet thoughtfulness and awareness—and cinematic pleasure." Scott Macdonald "JAMES BENNING: Before I made a shot, I’d already done a lot of advance planning. I’d decided to get to each bridge at a particular time of the day. And I paced my trip to each bridge in order to have ideal weather conditions for what I wanted to record on the day I’d arrive. For example, I wanted a different kind of sky at each place where I filmed. In 2001, for SOGOB...

Recent addition to the Bibliography page  at Unspoken Cinema: "The traditional Japanese concept of ma refers to a pause or a space, "the moment of no action, the stillness and silence that is filled with more powerful energy than the moments of action" on the classic Noh stage. It also refers to the pauses taken in between notes by a shakuhachi flute player or the spaces between stones in a Zen garden which reveal unexpected vistas and perspectives. The eighteen thought-provoking essays in this book present the work of talented writers and artists with vast experience in the fields of Japanese art, religion, music and philosophy. They show us how the experience of ma in the traditional Zen arts and practices can be used to create a greater awareness of our surroundings to vastly improve our lives in many other areas." Ken Rogers, John Einarsen & al. ; Ma: The Japanese Secret to Contemplation and Calm , 2025 Highlights include: " The Unspoken Space We Share ...

Le sommaire de 2025 sur Unspoken Cinema est complet, disponible ici . Ou sur la page Index . The 2025 table of content on Unspoken Cinema is completed, available here . Or on the Index page.

  Rencontre avec le réalisateur Wang Bing // Trilogie "Jeunesse" (20/02/2026) (YouTube) 50'03" (Boutique Potemkine) 26 Février 2026

We have reached (and passed) the bar of 500 films listed on the Recommended Contemplative Cinema page ! Since 1960, the first ever Contemplative film recorded in the database: Naked Island , to Laguna , the latest Sharunas Bartas film of 2025, film #500 on the list. In 65 years, this accounts for an average of 7.7 films per year. But these days, it's more like 25 per year. Since last year, the list can be browsed at my Letterboxd .

François Bégaudeau - Arracher du temps pour soi (YouTube) 5'37" (Marina Cristalle) 24 Fev 2019

Latest addition to the Library page at Unspoken Cinema: "The paper analyses the re-conceptualization of the intermedial trope of the tableau vivant in recent East European cinema through several examples from Hungarian and Russian films directed by György Pálfi, Kornél Mundruczó, Benedek Fliegauf, Béla Tarr, and Andrei Zvyagintsev. The tableau vivant in these films is not conceived primarily as an embodiment of a painting, the introduction of “the real into the image” (as Brigitte Peucker described), instead it appears more like the objectification of bodies as images, and something that we can associate with what Mario Perniola considers the “sex appeal of the inorganic” or “the Egyptian moment in art.” As such, the tableau becomes a powerful agent in generating metanarratives, offering a blueprint for a “big picture,” a comprehensive vision of the world (reinforced by recurring mythological themes like the genesis or the end of the world, the loss of Paradise, etc.). We may con...

  Is Slow Cinema the Antidote to ADHD? (YouTube) 4'04" (Hold My Theory) 28 Jan 2026

Gaman 我慢 Le fait d’endurer intérieurement avec dignité et patience. Une notion de force silencieuse : accueillir les difficultés avec calme et retenue, tenir bon sans se plaindre. Comme une sorte d’harmonie et de maîtrise de soi. Ichi-Nichi 一日 Vivre la journée comme une unité précieuse. Le rappel que chaque jour est un tout en soi, unique, complet et qui ne reviendra jamais. Un terme puissant, qui invite à habiter pleinement le moment présent. Ichigo Ichie 一期一会 "Une fois, une rencontre". Célébrer chaque instant comme un moment unique, qui ne reviendra jamais. Yoin 余韻 L’arrière-goût agréable d’un moment vécu. Ce qui reste en nous quand tout est pourtant terminé : la dernière note d’une musique, une émotion ressentie, un silence habité… Une sorte d’écho qui prolonge l’instant au-delà de sa fin. Michi 道 Le chemin, au sens physique et spirituel. La voie que l’on construit en marchant. Chaque pas, chaque détour, chaque rencontre contribue à tracer son propre chemin intérieur. Yori...

50 Observational films !

In this illuminating exchange, UNSPOKEN CINEMA interviews Joshua Polanski ( There Were No Gods Left ), a scholar and critic whose background in the academic study of religion and political theology provides a unique lens for examining the contemplative world of "slow cinema". As the organizer of the online guided film club "Discursions in Time: Slow and Poetic Cinema(s)," ( See program here ) Polanski argues that slowness is not a monolith but a diverse practice holding multitudes—from the decolonial "Malay time" of Lav Diaz to the stark materialism of Wang Bing. The discussion traverses Polanski's personal history, including his shared academic roots with Paul Schrader at Calvin College, while pivoting toward his specialized passion for the "Baltic Soul." He provides a compelling defense of the cinema of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, highlighting how these regions used poetic documentary and formal experimentation as a form of quiet rebell...

  See also at Unspoken Cinema: Comparative Duration in WISEMAN's oeuvre (2023) Comparative Duration in Lav DIAZ's oeuvre (2019) Comparative Duration in WANG Bing's oeuvre (2019) Lav Diaz Run Time (2009) Lav DIAZ on Long Takes (2008) Average Shot Length in CCC

Photo: Evolution of a filipino Family (2004/Lav DIAZ) "In this guided film club, we will explore the world of slow cinema(s) from the Lumière brothers through the early 2020s. We will hold each other accountable as we finally work through mammoth runtimes on films like Lav Diaz’s Evolution of a Filipino Family (10 hours and 43 minutes). We will learn together and from each other about diverse cinema traditions and filmmakers. And we will even debate whether or not there even is even an identifiable movement or aesthetic that we can accurately call “slow cinema.”  Each meeting will have recommended (not required) short readings, optional viewings, and required viewings. All films will be reasonably accessible to view from home at free or low costs. Each group meeting will be scheduled for 90 minutes over Google Meet."  Discursions in Time: Slow and Poetic Cinema(s) — A Guided Film Club (There Were No Gods Left) Program (March 8th - May 31st 2026) Meeting 1: Short(s) Introdu...