Lyrisch nitraat (1991)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Peter Delpeut

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

This film is a compilation of scenes from silent films made between 1905 and 1915 that sat in storage in an Amsterdam cinema for many years...

Plot Keywords:

Nitrate Film | Film History | No Dialogue | Decomposition | Independent Film

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Lyda Borelli	...	(archive footage)
Henny Porten	...	(archive footage)
Anni Timm	...	(archive footage) (as Anny Timm)

Also Known As:

Lyrical Nitrate

Runtime:

50 min

Country:

Netherlands

Language:

Dutch

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Yuca Film

Trivia:

This film is composed entirely of film footage that has been preserved by the Nederlands Filmmuseum, Amsterdam.

Movie Connections:

Edited from Zhenshchina zavtrashevo dnya (1914)

haunting images, though somewhat pointless ultimately

Basically a collection of very early "found" film footage. We get small portions of larger fictional narratives, tourist-like shots of cities, people (mostly children) posing and smiling for the camera.

Obviously, this was early in the development of the photographic image so the footage reflects the wonder and confusion many people seemed to experience at having themselves filmed. People were not as camera trained as we are now, and seem charmingly unsure as what to do.

The big draw here (at least it was for me) is the gorgeous, apparition-like texture the film creates and exists within. Much of the footage is just breath-takingly beautiful. In particular, the wide-open tracking shots of the cities are absolutely stunning. If you have that lust for old silent film and the moods it can evoke, this is right up your alley.

Remarkable as well are the snippets of larger narratives that we get. One involving a man and a woman shipwrecked on an island and what happens to them carries tremendous dramatic weight, though we only get about three scenes (and roughly ten minutes) of actual footage.

Biggest complaint I have is that the film ultimately is nothing more than what it is: a collection of found footage. Thematically, there has been no attempt by the person who put it together to create "something" with the footage. It is what it is. Nothing more, nothing less. But ultimately, it's nothing more than pretty pictures.