This time I’m going to write about an experimental and independent filmmaker called James Benning. He’s from United States and has an 40 years career, with more than 50 films. On this post I will comment 3 films of him, the only 3 that I have see. Gain access to see his films is very hard because he’s a very unpopular filmmaker, only known in the experimental cinema circuit. I knew him thanks to an elective class at the University. His personal life is not very important. I’m gonna put the focus on the 3 films that I mentioned. The 3 films have one thing in common: all of are observational. The movies called “13 Lakes”, “Ten Skies” and “L. Cohen”.

The first is a 2004 16mm film, placing emphasis on contemplation on all the lakes that appear. We can say that the movie it’s about the introspection that these lakes  gives to the viewer. You can see the movie on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAdii2YXZno



The second, “Ten Skies” can be watched on YouTube too (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0EZq6FbTaU). As you can see, it’s about sky and clouds.

The third, “L. Cohen” is a landscape. This film is impossible to view because it only have been on film festivals. I see this movie in the last edition of FIDOCS. This is a 42 minutes movie. By the first 25 minutes, nothing happens. Even you ask if you are seeing a photo, because there is no trail of movement. But the night falls, surprisingly. 5 minutes of night, and the sun appears again. So then sounds an entire Leonard Cohen song. The song ends, and you are seeing again the landscape. There it ends.

At this kind of films the central conflict doesn’t exist. The attention musn’t be on the characters or on the “film progression” because those conventions doesn’t exist on this kind of films. This films are about contemplation, nothing more.



Comentarios

  1. Prof. Masías19 de diciembre de 2018 a las 8:35 a.m.

    has an 40- a 40
    all of are observational. - incoh.
    it only have been on film festivals.- it has only been on at film festivals

    5.3

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