O surgimento da CRÍTICA DE CINEMA | Impressionismo Francês | HISTÓRIA DO CINEMA #9

Summary

This video explores the French Impressionist movement in cinema (1919-1929), which aimed to elevate film as an art form, influenced by the visual aesthetics of Impressionist painting. The movement introduced innovative techniques like moving cameras, close-ups, and psychological depth through visual storytelling. It focused on character emotions and everyday life, with filmmakers like Louis Delluc, Jean Epstein, and Germaine Dulac leading the charge. Despite its short-lived nature, the movement significantly impacted cinema, laying the foundation for future film criticism and the artistic development of the medium.

Takeaways

• 😀 The French Impressionist movement in cinema occurred between 1919 and 1929, just before the Surrealist movement emerged, and aimed to elevate cinema to an art form.
• 😀 The First World War severely impacted European cinema, causing a decline in production and pushing many European countries to import American films, which were seen as more commercially viable.
• 😀 The Impressionist filmmakers aimed to make cinema more artistic by focusing on visual aesthetics, much like Impressionist painters who viewed their works as art, not just representations of reality.
• 😀 Key figures in the French Impressionist cinema movement included Louis Delluc, Jean Epstein, Abel Gance, and Germaine Dulac, who pushed boundaries in filmmaking techniques and narratives.
• 😀 Technical innovations such as moving the camera, using close-ups, subjective shots, crossfades, lens distortions, and faster editing were employed to convey characters' emotions and psychological states visually.
• 😀 The movement pioneered new forms of film critique, with Louis Delluc being one of the first prominent film critics who applied concepts like photogenie, treating film as an art form with aesthetic value.
• 😀 Ricciotto Canudo's 1919 manifesto declared cinema as the 'seventh art,' categorizing it alongside traditional arts such as architecture, painting, music, poetry, and dance.
• 😀 The Impressionist filmmakers sought to explore everyday life and emotions through film, using visual techniques to express the characters' inner thoughts and feelings.
• 😀 Impressionist cinema was expensive to produce due to its technical innovations and artistic ambitions, leading to financial challenges for filmmakers and producers.
• 😀 The movement's impact was short-lived, as Hollywood’s rise and the economic pressures of World War II led to a decline in Impressionist cinema, but its techniques continue to influence modern filmmaking.
• 😀 Abel Gance's *Napoléon* (1927) was a landmark film of the movement, introducing the concept of polyvision (three screens), pioneering wide-screen technology, and being the first film to include a synchronized musical score.

Q & A

What is French Impressionism in cinema and why is it significant?

French Impressionism in cinema was a movement that sought to elevate cinema as an art form, much like how Impressionist painters revolutionized visual art. It focused on using innovative visual techniques to express emotional and psychological depth rather than just presenting a simple narrative.

Why was French Impressionism overshadowed by Surrealism?

French Impressionism was overshadowed by Surrealism because it emerged slightly earlier, during a time when the film industry in Europe was struggling due to the aftermath of World War I, making it less recognized. Surrealism, which came later, garnered more attention.

How did World War I affect the European cinema industry?

World War I caused widespread destruction in Europe, which led to a decline in the European cinema industry. As a result, many European countries began importing American films, leading to the dominance of Hollywood films in Europe.

What are the key innovations of French Impressionist cinema?

Key innovations included the use of dynamic camera movements, subjective shots (where the camera becomes a character’s point of view), rapid editing, double exposure, lens distortions, and an emphasis on visual storytelling over intertitles or explanatory text.

What role did Louis Deluc play in the French Impressionist movement?

Louis Deluc was a critical figure in the French Impressionist cinema movement. He was a poet, playwright, and film critic who believed in treating cinema as an art form. He also played a pivotal role in establishing cinematic criticism and the concept of 'photogeny,' which focuses on the photographic beauty of cinema.

How did the Impressionist filmmakers try to show characters' psychological states?

Impressionist filmmakers used various visual techniques, such as lens distortions and double exposures, to depict what characters were feeling. This was a departure from the traditional approach, where emotions were often conveyed through dialogue or static imagery.

What is the significance of the film *La Souriante Madame Bodan*?

The film *La Souriante Madame Bodan* (The Smiling Madame Bodan) by Germain Dulac is considered one of the first feminist films. It tells the story of a woman who becomes fed up with her husband’s manipulative suicide threats and eventually ends up taking matters into her own hands.

Why was the film *Napoléon* by Abel Gance so groundbreaking?

Abel Gance's *Napoléon* (1927) was groundbreaking for its use of 'Polyvision'—a widescreen format with three screens, an early attempt at creating panoramic visuals. It also featured innovative camera techniques, underwater shots, and dynamic movement, setting new standards for film production.

What impact did French Impressionism have on modern cinema?

French Impressionism significantly influenced modern cinema by introducing a more artistic, visual approach to filmmaking. It paved the way for the recognition of cinema as an art form, influenced the development of film criticism, and encouraged innovations in narrative and technique that are still used today.

How did the rise of American cinema affect European filmmaking?

The rise of American cinema, particularly Hollywood, began to dominate the global film industry after World War I. European filmmakers faced economic challenges and had to adopt new, innovative techniques to compete with the faster, more efficient American film production industry.