Chronos (1985)

Carefully picked scenes of nature and civilization are viewed at high speed using time-lapse cinematography in an effort to demonstrate the history of various regions.

Director:

Ron Fricke

Writers:

Constantine Nicholas (scenario), Genevieve Nicholas (scenario)

Storyline

Carefully picked scenes of nature and civilization are viewed at high speed using time-lapse cinematography in an effort to demonstrate the history of various regions.

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Plot Keywords:

nature | ecstasy | ambient music | non narrative | one word title | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Short

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA France

Language:

None

Release Date:

10 May 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Хронос

Filming Locations:

Monument Valley, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater, S.E.M. La Géode

Technical Specs

Runtime:

43 min

Sound Mix:

IMAX 6-Track (dbx)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Composer Michael Stearns used an instrument called the Beam to generate many of the sounds for this film, which is 12 feet long made of extruded aluminum with 24 piano strings from 19-22 gauge. The original instruments it was based upon were made from cast iron and difficult to move around.

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Connections

Referenced in Silicon Valley Timelapse (2008)

User Reviews

Leaving yourself behind

This is somewhere between documentary and photography. It has neither a script nor actors, and there is no narrator, no interview, and no still images. This is a moving picture, in the purest sense. The major focus is the time lapse cinematography of Ron Fricke, who also serves as director. That, and the soundtrack by Michael Stearns, is the sum total of "Chronos".

There are deeper meanings to some, intended and accidental, but I won't cheapen things by speculating on what those are. The main drive is the battle of slow versus fast, city versus nature. Much of the time lapse goes by at what appears to be the same speed, but what moves blisteringly fast in the city seems to go by without change or notice in nature. Only the slow march of shadows is apparent across rocks and old ruins. These passages are full and heavy with the weight of time. They pull like the moon on the tides, dragging you back into long forgotten history. It comes like a slow, shallow breath between trains hurtling down tracks to uncertain destinations, and the bleeding blur of strangers up escalators.

I've watched "Chronos" in many different contexts. It's been a relaxing background to the end of a long, tired day, or the full focus of my attention as I appreciate its depth of artistry. At forty-three minutes, it's neither too long to drag or too short to feel cut off. Each time after watching it, I find myself out of place with the speed of things around me. I feel the need to step back and breathe, to run faster, to walk slower. Somehow, some way, "Chronos" changed the way I see time.