Dziga Vertov's THE MAN WITH A MOVIE CAMERA (Chelovek s kinoapparatom)

Review by Dennis D. McDonald

This 1929 silent film by Russian director Vertov is a masterpiece of fluid editing and visual storytelling.

Outline-wise it follows a day in the life of a large city as the people wake up and start going about their daily affairs. With no narration and few subtitles translating onscreen signage, this viewer was swept away by the pace of constant, almost lyrical movement as the camera concentrates successively on things and people in motion.

Alternately funny, exciting, odd, sad, and inspiring, it’s a pleasure to behold what artists are capable of using basic technology.

Copyright (c) 2010 by Dennis D. McDonald