GPT4 talks about CCC
In January, I asked GPT 3.5 about Contemplative Cinema. Now GPT 4, who is smarter than GPT 3.5 (and not as smart as GPT5, rumored to be released on december 2023), is embedded with Bing (in the web browser Edge), and answers any prompts after consulting a Bing web search. Today, I'll ask GPT 4 the same questions and compare the answers...
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| Illustration generated by an AI (Adobe Express), prompt: "image of Contemplative Cinema" |
Prompt: What is the definition of Contemplative Cinema?
GPT4 : "Contemplative Cinema, also known as Slow Cinema, is a genre of art cinema film-making that emphasizes long takes and is typically characterized by a style that is minimalist, observational, and with little or no narrative.
In these films, there may be very little action or events. Car chases, combat scenes, violence, gunshots are either anecdotal or non-existent. Yet, it’s impossible to look away. These films take their time to establish the plot. Some have very few dialogues, others stand out for the originality of their script and others still by the length of their shots.
The stories of the films are diverse and cover several genres. It therefore seems obvious that the script must be solid and the actors at their best. They must indeed be able to convey all their emotions through their acting.
For example, in the film “A Simple Life”, Roger, played subtly by Andy Lau, takes care of his former maid Ah Tao, played by the talented Deannie Yip, who has spent her life taking care of the family’s house. After several attacks, she can no longer take care of household chores and decides to enter a retirement home. Their relationship is expressed a lot through looks, attentions, little things that make the other understand that he counts.
In conclusion, contemplative films are not films in which intelligence ceases to function. They are films in which reasoning gives way to wonder and rest."
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Prompt: What is the history of Contemplative Cinema?
GPT4 : "Contemplative Cinema, also known as Slow Cinema, has a rich history with practitioners of the genre including Andrei Tarkovsky, Michelangelo Antonioni, Robert Bresson, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Aleksandr Sokurov, Béla Tarr, Chantal Akerman, Theo Angelopoulos and Abbas Kiarostami.
Greek director Theo Angelopoulos has been called an "icon of the so-called Slow Cinema movement". Examples of the style include Ben Rivers’s Two Years at Sea, Michelangelo Frammartino’s Le Quattro Volte, and Shaun Wilson’s 51 Paintings.
Recent underground film movements such as Remodernist film share the sensibility of slow or contemplative cinema. G. Aravindan was a filmmaker whose works such as Kanchana Sita, Thampu and Esthappan have been regarded as embodying a uniquely original style of contemplative cinema where the aesthetic sensibility and philosophical insights of Indian culture could find a meditative mode of expression within more universal contexts of humanism and transcendentalism.
The AV Festival held a Slow Cinema Weekend at the Star and Shadow Cinema in Newcastle in March 2012, including the films of Rivers, Lav Diaz, Lisandro Alonso and Fred Kelemen. Recent examples include films by Kelly Reichardt, Bruno Dumont, Albert Serra, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Jia Zhangke, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Tsai Ming-Liang, Lav Diaz, Sergei Loznitsa, Carlos Reygadas, Amat Escalante, Lisandro Alonso, Nuri Bilge Ceylan and Pedro Costa.
The genre has produced notable works such as A Man Escaped (1956), Pickpocket (1959), L’Eclisse (1962), Red Desert (1964), Au Hasard Balthazar (1966), Mouchette (1967), Solaris (1972), Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975), The Passenger (1975), Mirror (1975), Stalker (1979), Nostalghia (1983), The Sacrifice (1986), The Lonely Voice of Man (1987), It’s Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books (1988), Kárhozat (1988), Landscape in the Mist (1988), A Brighter Summer Day (1991), Sátántangó (1994) and many more."
Comparison with GPT3.5 : He cites wikipedia and academia.edu. He cites precursors before my next question. But his examples are on point. All the usual suspects are there. Kudos for mentioning Aravindan! The side note on Remodernist Cinema could be helpful too, sure. I don't know why the AV festival end up in the discussion, but why not? And the "notable works" span from Modernist Cinema (precursors) to Angelopoulos (also precursor), but some titles are relevant. Overall, I prefered GPT3.5, who traces back to Lumière, the 20ies Avant Garde and explained the transition to digital cinema. I give it a D for lack of content pertinence.
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Prompt: Who are the precursors of Contemplative Cinema?
GPT4 : "The precursors of Contemplative Cinema include a number of influential directors who have made significant contributions to the genre. Here are some of them:
Andrei Tarkovsky: A Soviet filmmaker, writer, film editor and film theorist, Tarkovsky is one of the most important figures in the history of cinema. His films are characterized by metaphysical themes, extremely long takes, and sparse plots.
Michelangelo Antonioni: An Italian film director, screenwriter, editor, and short story writer, Antonioni is best known for his “trilogy on modernity and its discontents” — L’Avventura (1960), La Notte (1961), and L’Eclisse (1962).
Robert Bresson: A French film director known for his spiritual and ascetic style, Bresson contributed notably to the art of cinema; his non-professional actors, ellipses, and sparse use of scoring have led his works to be regarded as preeminent examples of minimalist film.
Pier Paolo Pasolini: An Italian film director, poet, writer, and intellectual, Pasolini distinguished himself as a poet, journalist, philosopher, linguist, novelist, playwright, filmmaker, newspaper and magazine columnist, actor, painter and political figure.
Aleksandr Sokurov: A Russian filmmaker whose most significant works include a feature film, Russian Ark (2002), filmed in a single unedited shot.
Béla Tarr: A Hungarian film director and writer known for his slow contemplative style.
Chantal Akerman: A Belgian film director, artist and professor of film at the City College of New York. Her best-known work is Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975).
Theo Angelopoulos: A Greek filmmaker known for his slow and dreamlike style.
Abbas Kiarostami: An Iranian film director, screenwriter, poet, photographer and film producer who has been involved in over forty films."
Comparison with GPT3.5 : Without any web citation this answer is entirely GPT. Again he forgets the Lumière Brothers. And mixed up "precursors" with "actual practitioners" (Sokurov, Tarr, Akerman, Kiarostami). Kudos for listing Pasolini alongside. Grade D. Again GPT3.5 was more accurate.
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Prompt: What are the greatest Contemplative Cinema films of all time?
GPT4 : "Here are some of the greatest Contemplative Cinema films of all time:
- At Land (1944)
- Barque sortant du port (1895)
- L’Arrivée d’un train à La Ciotat (1896)
- Printemps tardif (1949)
- Été précoce (1951)
- L’Intendant Sansho (1954)
- Crépuscule à Tokyo (1957)
- Fleurs d’équinoxe (1958)
- L’Avventura (1960)
- L’Île nue (1960)
- L’Année dernière à Marienbad (1961)
- L’Éclipse (1962)
- L’Enfance d’Ivan (1962)
- Les Fiancés (1963)
- Film (1965)
Comparison with GPT3.5 : He cites one list found online (senscritique.com, which explains why the titles are in French) which is a grab bag of alsorts of "slow" films, precursors, modernist and experimental, which are confusing the point. #14, Olmi's I Fidanzati is a kind of an outlier. But he cites 2 Lumière films and Naked Island! grade E. GPT3.5 was equally confused.
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Prompt: Why is Contemplative Cinema boring?
GPT4 : "Contemplative Cinema, also known as Slow Cinema, is often perceived as “boring” because it deviates from the traditional narrative and pacing that mainstream audiences are accustomed to. These films often feature long takes, minimal dialogue, and a slower pace that focuses on the minutiae of life.
The “slowness” allows for a deeper exploration of a character’s internal state and their environment. It encourages viewers to engage with the film in a more introspective and patient manner. However, this can be challenging for viewers used to more conventional films with faster pacing and more explicit storytelling.
It’s important to note that what may seem “boring” to some may be deeply engaging and thought-provoking to others. The appreciation of Contemplative Cinema often depends on individual tastes and viewing habits."
Comparison with GPT3.5 : No web citation. GPT tries to save the situation by taking the glass half-full of a glass half-empty in the question. Describing neutraly the traits of CCC without yielding to the free bashing. The answer eschews actual meanings of boredom and fails to tackle existentialist ennui or the decline of viewers atttentions. Grade C. GPT3.5 faired as poorly.
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Prompt: What are some of the key themes of Contemplative Cinema?
GPT4 : "Contemplative Cinema, also known as Slow Cinema, often explores the following key themes:
Intellectual Enjoyment: Contemplation is an intellectual enjoyment that cannot do without beauty and truth. It’s perfection that awakens and exalts it, with its harmonies, light, unity.
Perception: Everything is ultimately a question of perception. It’s the intelligence that picks this delicate contemplative flower, it’s the one that aligns itself with the object of its love to capture all the sap.
Degrees of Abstraction: Contemplative films can be distinguished into two types based on the degree of abstraction:
- Physical Degree: These films offer things under their corporeal appearances, and in front of which we are as if seized, fascinated.
- Mathematical Degree: This degree is more abstract than the previous one, which considers things in their quantity and the relations between quantities.
- Metaphysical Degree: This degree considers things as they are.
Masterful Scriptwriting: Slow films are not necessarily feel-good movies, but films that take their time to establish the plot. Some have very few dialogues, others stand out for the originality of their script and others still by the length of their shots.
Daily Life: Contemplative films do nothing more than show the unfolding of daily life.
Actor’s Performance: The actors must indeed be able to convey all their emotions through their acting.
Please note that these themes can vary widely from film to film within the genre."
Comparison with GPT3.5 : He cites lecran.club, lesetoilesdelaculture.fr, wikipedia and senscritique.com. Surprising collection of themes, some of which could be interesting to develop. Some others are cunningly evading the question with tautological arguments and redundant explanations. The bookending sentences are lazy and copy-pasted. Grade E. GPT3.5 had more classical and expected themes.
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Prompt: What are the techniques used in Contemplative Cinema?
GPT4 : "Contemplative Cinema, also known as Slow Cinema, often employs the following techniques:
Masterful Scriptwriting: Slow films are not necessarily feel-good movies, but films that take their time to establish the plot. Some have very few dialogues, others stand out for the originality of their script and others still by the length of their shots.
Actor’s Performance: The actors must indeed be able to convey all their emotions through their acting.
Daily Life: Contemplative films do nothing more than show the unfolding of daily life.
Minimalist Staging: The staging is visibly minimalist but often hides a very sophisticated device.
Slow Look: Slow films often share similar characteristics to those of static art forms (photographs, statues…), either mobilizing a "slow look".
Exploration of Time and Space: The two main engines of contemplative films are the exploration of time and space: attention is retained by the alliance of the image, sound, editing… and offers us a reflection on temporality, through how we experience it, how we feel it when viewing.
Please note that these techniques can vary widely from film to film within the genre."
Comparison with GPT3.5 : He cites lesetoilesdelaculture.fr, studocu.com, movavi.com and lecran.club. I wouldn't bring to the fore scriptwriting and performance when it comes to CCC... Same bookending parroting. Grade D. However, GPT3.5 deserved a B.
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Prompt: What is the average shot length of Contemplative Cinema?
GPT4 : "The average shot length in Contemplative Cinema, also known as Slow Cinema, can vary greatly depending on the specific film and director. However, it’s characterized by significantly longer takes compared to mainstream cinema. For instance, some research indicates that certain titles in this genre have an average shot length that is considerably longer than the two-second average shot length typically found in Hollywood action movies.
In the film “Florentina Hubaldo, CTE” by Lav Diaz, for example, the average shot length is notably extended. This extended duration of shots is a key characteristic of Contemplative Cinema, allowing for a deeper exploration of characters, environments, and themes. However, it’s important to note that the length of a shot is quite an abstract measure if divorced from what takes place within it."
Comparison with GPT3.5 : He cites rateyourmusic.com, openedition.org and wikipedia. Without citing any number for CCC, he does bring up a film by Lav Diaz as a good example of large ASL. The current Hollywood ASL is correct though. Grade B. GPT3.5's answer was more textbook but valid.
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Prompt: What are the distinctions between "Contemplative Cinema" and "Slow Cinema"?
GPT4 : "“Contemplative Cinema” and “Slow Cinema” are often used interchangeably to describe a genre of art cinema characterized by a style that is minimalist, observational, and typically emphasizes long takes. Both terms refer to films with little or no narrative, and they are known for their slower pacing and longer shot lengths compared to mainstream cinema.
While the terms are often used synonymously, some might argue that there are subtle differences. For instance, “Contemplative Cinema” might be used to emphasize the thoughtful, introspective nature of these films, inviting viewers to engage more deeply with the material. On the other hand, “Slow Cinema” might be used to highlight the deliberate pacing of these films, which often feature extended shots and a slower unfolding of events.
However, it’s important to note that these distinctions are not universally agreed upon and can vary depending on who is using the terms. Ultimately, both “Contemplative Cinema” and “Slow Cinema” refer to a similar style of filmmaking that challenges traditional narrative structures and encourages viewers to engage with cinema in a more patient and thoughtful manner."
Comparison with GPT3.5 : He cites wikipedia and Tiago de Luca. Emphasis is made on their synonymity, but little is done to distinguish them. I would have prefered noting that CCC is a smaller subgroup of Slow Cinema, both historically and stylistically. Grade C. GPT3.5's answer was more developped but indistinguishable.
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Prompt: Write a review of a Contemplative film.
GPT4 : "Title: The Turin Horse (2011)
Director: Béla Tarr
“The Turin Horse” is a quintessential example of Contemplative Cinema, directed by the Hungarian filmmaker Béla Tarr. The film is a profound exploration of existential despair, told through the lens of a father and his daughter living in desolate rural isolation.
The film’s narrative is minimalist, with the plot revolving around the mundane daily routines of the two main characters. Their life is harsh and repetitive, filled with tasks such as fetching water from the well, eating boiled potatoes, and tending to their horse. Yet, within this simplicity, Tarr manages to convey a deep sense of existential dread and despair.
One of the standout features of “The Turin Horse” is its cinematography. The film is shot in black and white, which adds to the bleakness of the characters’ existence. The camera work is slow and deliberate, often lingering on scenes long after the action has taken place. This allows viewers to fully absorb the stark reality of the characters’ lives.
The performances in “The Turin Horse” are equally impressive. The actors deliver nuanced performances that convey a wealth of emotion despite the lack of dialogue. Their faces and body language speak volumes about their characters’ inner turmoil.
“The Turin Horse” is not an easy watch. Its slow pace and lack of traditional narrative can be challenging for some viewers. However, those who are patient will be rewarded with a deeply moving cinematic experience that provokes thought and introspection.
In conclusion, “The Turin Horse” is a masterclass in Contemplative Cinema. It’s a film that demands your attention and patience but offers an unforgettable exploration of human existence in return."
Comparison with GPT3.5 : Excellent choice (my #4 title of greatest CCC of all time), and much more representative of CCC than Tree of Life ("Slow Cinema", yes, but contemplative, no), whose music, voice over, acting and editing distract from pure contemplation... The review is pretty good (deserving a B- for failing to contextualize Nietsche's influence in the title), hitting all the right notes, coldy depicting the facts in a neutral fashion, and feeling empathy for bored spectators.
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Prompt: Review "Leviathan" by Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Verena Paravel.
GPT4 : "Title: Leviathan (2012)
Directors: Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Verena Paravel
“Leviathan” is a groundbreaking documentary that offers a mesmerizing and gripping exploration of the North American fishing industry. Directed by Lucien Castaing-Taylor and Verena Paravel of the Sensory Ethnography Lab at Harvard University, the film is a visual poem that immerses viewers in the harsh realities of commercial fishing.
The film stands out for its innovative use of GoPro cameras, which were attached to people, fish, and objects to capture raw images and natural sounds. This results in a non-linear and virtually wordless narrative that creates an immersive and almost hallucinatory experience.
“Leviathan” is entirely dialogue-free, yet it manages to grip the audience throughout its duration. The film presents a cosmic portrait of one of mankind’s oldest endeavors, offering a visual meditation on the sea. It conveys the brutal toll that the enterprise takes on the workers and on the ocean, and it could even be read as an environmental parable in which the sea threatens to exact its revenge on humanity.
The film’s reception has been largely positive, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting 84% approval based on 51 critics. Peter Howell of the Toronto Star praised the film for plunging viewers into the sights and sounds of this visceral business. Dennis Lim of The New York Times noted that the film attests to the power of estrangement.
In conclusion, “Leviathan” is a pioneering work in the realm of documentary filmmaking. Its unique approach challenges traditional narrative structures and offers viewers an unforgettable cinematic experience. However, its wilful opacity might not appeal to everyone."
Comparison with GPT3.5 : Decent review of a complex experimental film. Grade B+. GPT3.5 denotes the sound design and writes more elegantly.
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Prompt: Review "Five: Decicated to Ozu" by Abbas Kiarostami
GPT4 : "Title: Five: Dedicated to Ozu (2003)
Director: Abbas Kiarostami
“Five: Dedicated to Ozu” is a unique cinematic experience directed by the renowned Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami. The film is a tribute to the Japanese master Yasujirō Ozu and is a testament to Kiarostami’s ability to convey profound meaning through seemingly simple shots.
The film consists of five long shots, each averaging about 16 minutes. Each shot is set by the ocean, and in typical Ozu fashion, the camera never moves, zooms or pans. There is no dialogue, and only one shot includes people. The sequences include a piece of driftwood on the seashore carried about by the waves, people walking on the seashore, blurry shapes on a winter beach with a herd of dogs, a group of loud ducks crossing the image, and a pond at night with frogs improvising a concert.
What makes “Five: Dedicated to Ozu” stand out is its ability to capture life on screen without resorting to traditional narrative structures. The film pushes Kiarostami’s formal experimentation to a minimalist extreme. It’s a gentle piece that speaks of affection and contemplation, allowing viewers to experience true calm.
The film’s lack of dialogue and traditional narrative might be challenging for some viewers. However, those who are patient will be rewarded with an immersive cinematic experience that encourages introspection and offers a unique perspective on life.
In conclusion, “Five: Dedicated to Ozu” is an exceptional work in the realm of Contemplative Cinema. It’s a film that demands your attention and patience but offers an unforgettable exploration of human existence in return."
Comparison with GPT3.5 : I like this lovely review, simple and factual. He cites mainakmisra.com, wikipedia, inreviewonline.com, letterbox and imdb. Grade A-. GPT3.5 was more generalistic and vague.
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Prompt: Write a Haiku on Contemplative Cinema.
GPT4 :
"In stillness, life unfolds,
Cinema of the mindful soul,
Time’s tale quietly told."
Comparison with GPT3.5 : Always excellent with Haiku poetry. A+
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