Unspoken Cinema

50 Observational films !

"La cinémathèque du documentaire à la Bpi a le plaisir de vous présenter une rétrospective intégrale de l’œuvre de Frederick Wiseman, à l’occasion de la restauration de 33 de ses films. Cette rétrospective se déroulera en deux temps : chapitre 1 à l’automne 2024, chapitre 2 à l’hiver 2025. Certaines projections auront lieu en la présence de Wiseman lui-même et de nombreux·ses invité·e·s. « C’est une joie intense que de proposer « Frederick Wiseman, nos humanités », fruit d’un travail de trois ans. Cette rétrospective intégrale est née d’une volonté et d’un travail communs avec, aux États-Unis, Zipporah Films, la société créée par le cinéaste en 1971, et avec Météore Films en France. C’est une grande fierté que cet événement dans les salles du Centre Pompidou, portée par La cinémathèque du documentaire à la Bpi, soit le tout premier au monde à partir de ce matériel magnifique offrant véritablement une expérience renouvelée de l’œuvre." Arnaud Hée, programmateur du cycle Rétros...

  Making Documentary Film: Frederick Wiseman and His Collaborators   by Thomas W. Benson and Carolyn Anderson at Penn State's  Libraries Open Publishing  (free PDF)

Menus-Plaisirs : Les Troisgros (2023) Frederick WISEMAN What you ought to know prior to watching this film The less information about this film, the more surprises the slow-burn discovery will get you, each step of the way. The faces of these chefs might not be familiar at first, but they’ll gradually grow on you… until you’re part of the family by the end. You might want to save a good moment of your time to complete this four-hour long observational documentary, as there is no built-in intermission. Like for all Wiseman’s recent films, this film spends longer than usual to foster acquaintance with the universe he’s studying. He observes carefully, patiently, the institutions of society and culture, one at the time, with a no-nonsense title naming its subject with exactitude. What you won’t see in this film: emotional music score, voiceover commentary, stars, competition, prices, money, waiting line, shouting orders, gratuitous insults, tears of despair or joy, food reviews, Instagra...

  See also at Unspoken Cinema: Comparative Duration in WANG Bing's oeuvre Comparative Duration in Lav DIAZ's oeuvre Lav Diaz Run Time Average Shot Length in CCC

  Fredrick Wiseman Interview on National Gallery: A Fascinating Behind-the-Scenes Journey (YouTube) 35'30" 28 april 2023

Opening sequence : A brief black screen with the sound of water nearby, so that the film starts by titillating our ears first with a calming, soothing tonality. The soundscape lingers as the screen opens, in black & white, on an embankment with the setting sun straight ahead. Two old people, backlit beautifully, are busy working ; one crouching over a bucket full of water and the other bending over an entangled fishing net. – Konnichi wa, says the cameraman off-screen as the old lady turns to the camera, and replies likewise. The film begins with a welcoming greeting (as we are casually introduced to who will become the two main characters of the film). In the foreground, the old lady calls for Wai-chan in the distance. But she soon adds he doesn’t hear well. Cut to the reverse shot, looking back at the lady, and slowly panning toward the legs of the old man who has sit in the shade of a shack. Tilt up, revealing his head, hidden under a cap. Close up of his face, e...

Today was announced the line-up for the 75th Venice Film Festival (August 29th - September 8th 2018) Surprise : Tsai Ming-liang brings a new film, Ni De Lian / Your Face (documentary on Lee Kang-Sheng), 76 min, out of competition !!! New Carlos Reygadas, Nuestro Tiempo (fiction) 173 min, in competition, Reygadas plays in his film! New Frederick Wiseman, Monrovia, Indiana (documentary) 223 min, out of competition, New Sergei Loznitsa, Process (documentary) 125 min