Lumière and Company (1995)

40 international directors were asked to make a short film using the original Cinematographe invented by the Lumière brothers.

Directors:

Theodoros Angelopoulos (as Theo Angelopoulos), Vicente Aranda

Writer:

Philippe Poulet (original idea)

Stars:

Pernilla August, Max von Sydow, Merzak Allouache

Cast

Credited cast:
Merzak Allouache	...	Self
Jeffe Alperi	...	Policeman (segment "David Lynch")
Theodoros Angelopoulos	...	Self (as Théo Angelopoulos)
Romane Bohringer	...	(segment "Claude Miller")
Michele Carlyle	...	(segment "David Lynch")
Youssef Chahine	...	Self
Lou Chapiteau	...	(segment "Claude Miller") (as sa petite fille Lou)
Marc Chapiteau	...	(segment "Claude Miller")
Antoine Duléry	...	(segment "Claude Lelouch")
Pascal Duquenne	...	(segment "Jaco Van Dormael")
Bruno Ganz	...	Damiel (segment "Wim Wenders")
Charles Gérard	...	(segment "Claude Lelouch")
Ticky Holgado	...	(segment "Claude Lelouch")
Isabelle Huppert	...	Récitante: Segment Abbas Kiarostami (voice)
James Ivory	...	Self

Storyline

In 1995, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the invention of the Cinématographe, the first motion-picture camera that served also as a projector, forty international film directors were asked to each make a short film, following a specific set of limitations. Using the original camera patented by Louis Lumière and Auguste Lumière, the imaginative filmmakers contributed their work, keeping in mind to keep the shorts under fifty-two seconds, use no synchronized sound, and to take no more than three takes. The short films were compiled and then released as an anthology film.

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Plot Keywords:

anthology | anthology film | silent filmmaking | film director as character | title co directed by female | 

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Taglines:

Forty intriguing films from the world's leading directors.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Did You Know?

Trivia

John Boorman's short film was shot on the set of Neil Jordan's Michael Collins (1996).

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Connections

Referenced in Muscle Match (2016)

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Soundtracks

FRANCK 2000
David Lynch et Angelo Badalamenti
Edition Bob Kind / Anton Music

User Reviews

An interesting diversion with a pioneering camera

This film was made to celebrate one-hundred years of the first camera used by the Lumiere Brothers. Forty directors from around the world were asked to make a short film with the original camera. The rules being it lasts no longer than fifty-two seconds, only three takes allowed, and no synchronous sound. The directors are predominately French, with a few notable exceptions like David Lynch, Peter Greenaway and John Boorman. Lynch's segment is far and away the most creative and satisfactory effort. Most of the others are mainly static and ordinary. But it's a fascinating documentary with insights and comments from the all the directors, and worth seeing for Lynch's film alone. That was the prime reason I watched it.

Details

Country:

France Denmark Spain Sweden

Language:

French English Danish Norwegian Swedish Greek Japanese Mandarin

Release Date:

20 December 1995 (France)

Also Known As:

Lumière and Company

Filming Locations:

Athens, Greece

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinétévé, La Sept-Arte, Igeldo Komunikazioa

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1