Movie Review: “Man With a Movie Camera”

The film Man with a Movie Camera encompasses stylistic differences compared to the conventional perception of the movie industry. This early experimental film focuses solely on the shots used and the juxtaposition of music. Instead of following a plot or narrative, the director uses the shots from everyday life and basic activities, such as conversation between people and rush hour, to convey the common man and basic activities. The shots that are used create its own narrative and does not necessarily have a main focus or principal to follow. These are not necessarily random either. The footage used is purposely induced to provoke emotion and feel the environment as a whole. It is as if the director wants the audience to feel the hustle and bustle of the shots, such as the scenes of the city and rush hour. He wants one to feel as if they are experiencing the intensity and swiftness of the trolleys and people moving throughout the streets. By observing the actions of the people and the environment as a whole, the audience can feel the intensity and rapid movements of everyday life. On the other hand, he uses shots of basic conversations between people in a more personal type of way, a personal connection to the audience. The movie is what the title says, a man with a camera basically observing society as a whole. 

One specific scene I would like to focus on is the rush hour scene. This highlights the intensity of this specific time of day that most people can relate to. The director switches between a shot with a speeding car, then back to the crowd along the sidewalk, then back to another high-speed shot. This shows the drastic intensity that one can feel during this time of day. The rush to get to work or even to get home after a long day can be felt by the use of the shots, something that everyone can relate to. Along with the shot is the fast tempo music. The rapid switch between shots and the use of fast tempo music allows the intensity to be felt, with no words whatsoever. The way in which this scene is edited allows for these feelings and emotions to be felt so simply. He provides the shots side by side to feel the rush of these individuals. This scene provides evidence to the importance of editing and the use of sound. These help to encompass the exact feelings of the scene, which does not require words.