CCC FAQ #8 : Where to start with Contemplative Cinema ?
Contemporary Contemplative Cinema Frequently Asked Questions #8 :
For someone new to Contemplative Cinema, who has never heard of it and never watched any such film, I would recommend to pick one of the following titles suggested and give it a try, involving yourself with the most attentive dedication.
These ten recommendations, ranked from most fun to most austere, are all pretty approachable and easily available. You may pick at random any of them to get a good grasp of Contemplative Cinema right away. Or you perhaps would want to watch them all in a row as the hypothetical line up of my fantasy festival…
These films aren’t necessarily representative of a complete œuvre dedicated to Contemplative Cinema (unlike my list for iconic auteurs), however individually they embody the feel and soul of what this aesthetic stands for. Each of them is a new entry into this singular peaceful universe, with each a different style and genre.
Their runtime go from 72 minutes to 2h21min for the longest, which is more than acceptable given the mainstream feature length nowadays. There are two documentaries if such is your preference, entirely without voiceover commentary, letting images speak for themselves. The countries of origin are quite diverse, making you travel the world towards a different landscape.
You don’t need to read prior knowledge about the film, as a virgin viewing will be meritorious in the end. Just a few words for each selection to set the mood and whet your appetite… So here you go, make your choice and enjoy !
Or else you could always elect one of the five recommendations in my multilangual series :
Contemplative Cinema Initiation (5 languages+3)
Where to start with Contemplative Cinema ?
For someone new to Contemplative Cinema, who has never heard of it and never watched any such film, I would recommend to pick one of the following titles suggested and give it a try, involving yourself with the most attentive dedication.
These ten recommendations, ranked from most fun to most austere, are all pretty approachable and easily available. You may pick at random any of them to get a good grasp of Contemplative Cinema right away. Or you perhaps would want to watch them all in a row as the hypothetical line up of my fantasy festival…
These films aren’t necessarily representative of a complete œuvre dedicated to Contemplative Cinema (unlike my list for iconic auteurs), however individually they embody the feel and soul of what this aesthetic stands for. Each of them is a new entry into this singular peaceful universe, with each a different style and genre.
Their runtime go from 72 minutes to 2h21min for the longest, which is more than acceptable given the mainstream feature length nowadays. There are two documentaries if such is your preference, entirely without voiceover commentary, letting images speak for themselves. The countries of origin are quite diverse, making you travel the world towards a different landscape.
You don’t need to read prior knowledge about the film, as a virgin viewing will be meritorious in the end. Just a few words for each selection to set the mood and whet your appetite… So here you go, make your choice and enjoy !
* * *
Life on Earth (1998/SISSAKO/Mali/Mauritania/FR)
The voice of the auteur narrating his poetical observations on the lives of his neighbours. Beautiful images of people living in adobe houses in a small village in Mali.Alamar (2009/GONZALES-RUBIO/Mexico) 1h13min
Wonderfully immersive images of a coral reef on the coast of Mexico, with non-actors playing themselves. A Mayan father and his son spend the most incredible moments together before his return to his divorced mom in Italy.A Scene at the Sea (1991/KITANO/Japan) 1h41min
The nonchalant dailylife on the coast of Japan of a young couple with hearing impairment. The man learns to surf by himself with a broken board, and soon begins a real passion for surf, lovingly supported by his girlfriend.Naked Island (1960/SHINDO/Japan) 1h36min
On a barren island deprived of fresh water, a Japanese couple and their two children, manage to grow crops with sweat and tears. The very first prototype of Contemplative Cinema.Nobody Knows (2003/KORE-EDA/Japan) 2h21min
Four children, left behind by their mother, strive to survive in a small appartment. Tragic and fascinating. The Straight Story (1999/LYNCH/USA) 1h52min
Alvin, an old man, decides to join an emotionally distant brother across nearly 300 miles on a lawnmower.Bestiaire (2012/CÔTÉ/Canada) DOC 1h12min
A touching series of wordless portraits of some animals in a zoo, with two-ways contemplation: the beasts versus the humans. My Joy (2010/LOZNITSA/Russia) 2h07min
Maybe the most dramatic fiction of the bunch, still a very slow burn journey, cynical, for a truck driver lost in a corruption nightmare. Our Daily Bread (2005/GEYRHALTER/Germany) DOC 1h32min
Spellbinding, wordless documentary on the European mechanised food industry, at the junction of nature and robotisation, the scary, yet tranquil, dehumanised line work that brings food to our plates. Under The Skin (2013/GLAZER/UK) 1h48min
The most wellknown fiction of the lot, a mundane story of alien invasion, staring Scarlett Johansson. Almost wordless and beautifully melancholic cinematography. * * *
Or else you could always elect one of the five recommendations in my multilangual series :
Contemplative Cinema Initiation (5 languages+3)
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| Ai generated image (Firefly) |
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