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Passage de Venus (1874)
REVIEW: Passage of Venus (1874), A landmark in the history of cinema
"Passagem de Vênus (Passage de Venus)" is a silent short film in black and white from 1874, considered one of the first moving records in the history of cinema. Lasting just a few seconds, the film depicts a series of photographs of the transit of the planet Venus across the Sun. These images were captured by French inventor P. J. C. Janssen, who developed the Photographic Revolver, an innovative camera system that allowed consecutive image sequences to be obtained.
The passage of Venus across the face of the sun in 1874 aroused great interest among scientists at the time, leading to several expeditions to the best observation points around the world. At least 62 parties visited 80 different sites in meticulous preparation to obtain objective and permanent records of this astronomical event.
When watching the short film "Passagem de Vênus (Passage de Venus)", it is evident that its historical importance surpasses its quality as a cinematographic work. The low quality of the images, resulting from the technological limitations of the time, made it difficult to clearly identify the transit of Venus over the Sun. The description provided along with the movie offers more information than the movie itself, which limits its enjoyment as a complete cinematic experience.
In terms of acting, direction, screenplay, cinematography and soundtrack, it is important to mention that this short film does not have these traditional elements, since it is a series of photographs in sequence. Therefore, it is not possible to assess these specific aspects of production.
Considering its historical relevance as one of the first moving records and Janssen's pioneering work in the creation of the Photographic Revolver, "Passagem de Vênus" deserves recognition as an important milestone in the development of cinema. However, for contemporary viewers, its main attraction lies in its curiosity and appreciation of the fundamental role it played in the evolution of the cinematographic medium.