Man with a Movie Camera (1929)
"Chelovek s kino-apparatom" (original title)

A cameraman travels around a city with a camera slung over his shoulder, documenting urban life with dazzling inventiveness.

Director:

Dziga Vertov

Writer:

Dziga Vertov (scenario)

Stars:

Mikhail Kaufman

Cast

Credited cast:
Mikhail Kaufman	...	The cameraman

Storyline

This playful film is at once a documentary of a day in the life of the Soviet Union, a documentary of the filming of said documentary, and a depiction of an audience watching the film. Even the editing of the film is documented. We often see the cameraman who is purportedly making the film, but we rarely, if ever, see any of the footage he seems to be in the act of shooting!

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Plot Keywords:

urban life | exercise bike | public showers | hurdles | goalie | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Soviet Union

Release Date:

12 May 1929 (USA)

Also Known As:

Living Russia, or The Man with a Camera

Filming Locations:

Kiev, Ukraine

Company Credits

Production Co:

VUFKU

Technical Specs

Runtime:

68 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1996 Norwegian composer Geir Jenssen ("aka Biosphere") was commissioned by the Tromsø International Film Festival to write a new soundtrack for the movie, using the director's written instructions for the original accompanying piano player. Jenssen wrote half of the soundtrack, turning the other half to Per Martinsen (aka Mental Overdrive). It was used for the Norwegian version, "Mannen med filmkameraet", at the 1996 TIFF. The scored movie was not available after the festival. Soundtrack released in 2001 on CD.

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Crazy Credits

At the beginning there is a long explanation of what this film is about and that it is of experimental origin.

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Connections

References Prodannyy appetit (1928)

User Reviews

Another superb Soviet silent

Need more proof that the Russian Revolution actually did some good? Just watch Dziga Vertov's amazing experimental film and appreciate the creative energies that October 1917 unleashed. A clear (and superior) forerunner of films like Koyaanisqatsi, The Man With the Movie Camera will tease and provoke your eyes until it's quick cut ending will leave you gasping for more.