The Act of Seeing with One's Own Eyes (1971)

At a morgue, forensic pathologists conduct autopsies of the corpses assigned.

Director:

Stan Brakhage

Storyline

Forensic pathologists perform autopsies. The first two consist of examination, measurement, and checking muscles. The remaining ones involve cutting away bone to expose and examine internal organs, peeling back skin and muscle, removing organs, using syringes to extract bodily fluids, and cutting pieces of tissue. Clothes are inventoried. As each autopsy ends, bodies are covered with sheets. There is no soundtrack. We see a body with extensive burns. The work is sometimes delicate, sometimes not; but it's always gory so be warned.

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Plot Keywords:

pathologist | body | autopsy | syringe | forensic | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Short

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Filming Locations:

Allegheny County Coroner's Office - 542 Fourth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

32 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In order to obtain entry to the morgue, Stan Brakhage had to agree that he would not show any of the faces of the deceased. Also, the film had to be approved by all the medical examiners who were captured on film.

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Connections

Follows Deus Ex (1971)

User Reviews

Beautiful and disturbing

A beautifully shot film. Suddenly you realise that you are looking at bits of people, an empty skull. A doctor speaking calmly in a microphone, with a bloodstain. The fact that there is no sound makes it even more impressive. Disturbing but fascinating.