The Ister (2004)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Directors:

David Barison
Daniel Ross

Writers:

David Barison (writer)
Daniel Ross (writer)

Release Date:

24 September 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

A 3000km journey up the Danube river to the heart of Europe.

Plot Keywords:

Danube | Heidegger | Holderlin | Jean Luc Nancy | Syberberg

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Philippe Lacoue-Labarthe	...	Himself
Jean-Luc Nancy	...	Himself
Bernard Stiegler	...	Himself
Hans-Jürgen Syberberg	...	Himself

Directed by
David Barison
Daniel Ross

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
David Barison		writer
Daniel Ross		writer

Produced by
David Barison	....	co-executive producer
David Barison	....	producer
Daniel Ross	....	producer

Cinematography by
David Barison
Daniel Ross

Film Editing by
David Barison

Production Companies

• Black Box Sound and Image

Distributors

• Black Box Sound and Image (2005) (Non-USA) (DVD)
• First Run/Icarus Films (2005) (USA) (VHS)
• First Run/Icarus Films (2005) (USA) (all media)

Runtime:

189 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

French | German | Romanian | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Filming Locations:

Croatia

Company:

Black Box Sound and Image

Movie Connections:

References Hitler - ein Film aus Deutschland (1977)

Epic journey - challenging

Warning: this is not a popcorn movie! A lot of people like to talk about how The Matrix is about philosophical ideas. It is, but of the "beginners" variety. If you want more depth and breadth to your ideas, you must see this film. It does take a while to get going and there is no way to understand the whole thing in one viewing (over three hours long!). For some this will be a liability, but if you like films that reveal their pleasures over multiple viewings then this is one for you. There is a lot going on; a trip up the Danube river, interviews with archeologists, engineers and ecologists along the river, festivals, ruins, marches, and that's just the simple stuff. A narration sits on top of all of this, provided by three philosophers and a white-haired German filmmaker I had not heard of at the end. They discuss technology, politics and ethics, and it's all woven together in a way that means that you always feel like you are heading somewhere important. Where you end up, well, I found it quite moving. There a lot of layers to this film and if you make an effort to dig you'll be rewarded. NB I saw this at the ICA Cinemas in London last year.