A short silent film of Agnès Varda taking a portrait of Brassaï in Paris.
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Agnès Varda shoots Brassaï
- Thread starter Collas
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- Dec 19, 2017
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An interesting film, one assumes self-written & directed, it has a feel of Rowan Atkinson in its pathos.
It appears she's using a British tailboard camera, it looks like an E & T Underwood. It is not a French Chambre De Voyage, or German Reisekamera.
Ian
It appears she's using a British tailboard camera, it looks like an E & T Underwood. It is not a French Chambre De Voyage, or German Reisekamera.
Ian
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2017
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- 3,613
It would be interesting to know more about this film's background. Agnès obviously made a point of seeking out the right mentors, the fact she's working with Brassai, very early1950s, who is she learning cinematography from, maybe Jacques Tati himself. I'm trying to put a name to the person who stops, poses, moves on, then back, it;s someone well known
The sheer craft and simplicity of this film is mazing
The camera is a 13x18cm Gilles Faller (so initially I was wrong), the camera's design is based on the half plate Underwood tailboard camera. How do I know for certain, no other company made similar plate/film holders and there's a clear shot of one. Notice she doesn't appear to remove the dark-slide, the Gilles Faller holders are very different, they are like a blind, you pull the dark-slide up into the other side, thin slices of wood on a cloth backing
The last Gilles Faller LF cameras made had been redesigned and had International backs, and are the most amazing LF cameras I've seen, streets ahead of anything earlier or since.
It's worth checking out the Philip Kaufman's 1990 film Henry & June, there are some amazing re-creations of some of Brassai's Paris by Night images.
Ian
The sheer craft and simplicity of this film is mazing
The camera is a 13x18cm Gilles Faller (so initially I was wrong), the camera's design is based on the half plate Underwood tailboard camera. How do I know for certain, no other company made similar plate/film holders and there's a clear shot of one. Notice she doesn't appear to remove the dark-slide, the Gilles Faller holders are very different, they are like a blind, you pull the dark-slide up into the other side, thin slices of wood on a cloth backing
The last Gilles Faller LF cameras made had been redesigned and had International backs, and are the most amazing LF cameras I've seen, streets ahead of anything earlier or since.
It's worth checking out the Philip Kaufman's 1990 film Henry & June, there are some amazing re-creations of some of Brassai's Paris by Night images.
Ian
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- Jun 23, 2022
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Well, that improved this afternoon’s cup of tea no end! 
Best with the sound off in my view.
Do you think it was ever longer? Tiny gestures, like the two cars are so lovely.
I agree that the figure passing the gateway at the start looks VERY familiar to anyone who grew up with Mr. Hulot and Mon Oncle.
Best with the sound off in my view.
Do you think it was ever longer? Tiny gestures, like the two cars are so lovely.
I agree that the figure passing the gateway at the start looks VERY familiar to anyone who grew up with Mr. Hulot and Mon Oncle.
