Review of Man with a Movie Camera (1929) by Kisholoy M — 26 Jun 2012

This is an absolutely fascinating movie. It is both entertaining and educational at the same time, in a variety of ways. First of all, as a keen student of society, life, economy and politics, I could not overlook the fact that even after the Bolshevik revolution, there seemed to be quite a bit of poverty in Russia. That saddened me to a certain extent. Also, the movie helped me notice a significant amount of inequality being present in the society even after the socialist revolution. For example, I distinctly remember a scene where some aristocratic ladies are helped off a carriage and then their luggage carried off by a couple of bearers who seemed to be pretty poor and if I am not wrong, even bare-footed.

Enough of the sociological side. The movie stands out as an exceptionally educational one for those wanting to learn movements with the camera. Complicated tasks were achieved by the cameraman, like shooting from a moving vehicle, shooting while running on the top of a bridge or high structure, shooting from very low angle, often lying flat on the ground, even as carts cruise over the cameraman, shooting while precariously hanging from the front of a speeding train, so on and so forth. Not only did we get to see these amazing shots, but also the shots which show the cameraman actually carrying out the aforementioned tasks!! I think that is where this movie is unique because of the entertainment quotient, which is greatly helped by a fantastic supporting music, as well as the educational quotient that it undoubtedly has.

This movie is therefore a masterpiece not only from the perspective of the viewers but also from that of the budding filmmakers and movie technique enthusiasts.