By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Heinz Bütler
Country: switzerland
Year: 2006
Running time: 72
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436629/combined
Bruce says: “According to Cartier-Bresson photography is all about geometry and structure. During the course of the film, Cartier-Bresson looks at his photos with great pleasure and affection and often explains their cultural context to the camera. His photographs often contain dazzling contrasts of light and shadow; his sense of humour crops up unexpectedly as he captures a precise moment with impeccable timing. Throughout a career which lasted several decades, he traveled extensively throughout the world as he blurred the lines between photojournalism and photography as an art form. He was renowned for being in the right place at the right time to cover major events.
“Heinz Bütler mixes talking heads in with the photo show and tell. Isabelle Huppert who once sat for a portrait is lovely and insightful as she looks through old photos. She describes the creative process drawing on her experience as an actor. Arthur Miller, apparently a longtime friend, talks about Cartier-Bresson with intelligence and a great underlying respect. In a touching moment he finds a picture Cartier-Bresson took of Marilyn Monroe on the set of THE MISFITS. Miller feels Cartier-Bresson, driven by a fundamentally tragic vision, captured her basic intelligence.
“The film is not served well by using the bombastic Ferdinando Scianna and the awestruck Josef Koudelka, both fellow photographers. Photographer Elliott Erwitt – probably much closer in stature to Cartier-Bresson – conveys the proper tone, mixing his reverence with constant amusement. He describes Cartier-Bresson’s photographs as simple observation without artifice.
“HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON: THE IMPASSIONED EYE should please most views regardless of their familiarity with his work. Cinephiles will get a kick out of seeing the book of photographs Cartier-Bresson used as a portfolio for a job interview to be Jean Renoir’s assistant. He got the job. (He was the assistant director for THE RULES OF THE GAME.) This is an enjoyable film, in no way a great one. 3.5 cats”
| Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Impassioned Eye (Switzerland; 72 min.) directed by: |
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