2001

A Time Capsule

18 April — 14 June 2026

still from Ghost World (Terry Zwigoff, DE/GB/US 2001)

still Ghost World (Terry Zwigoff, DE/GB/US 2001)

From Donnie Darko (Richard Kelly) and A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (Steven Spielberg) to La pianiste (Michael Haneke), Îles flottantes (Nanouk Leopold) and Spirited Away (Hayao Miyazaki). 2001 proved to be a watershed year not only in film, but also in politics, technology and culture.

In its film programme 2001 – A Time Capsule, Eye Filmmuseum is marking the 25th anniversary of the year 2001 with a generous helping of nostalgia, screening 25 films that were released in 2001.

still What Time is it There? (Tsai Ming-liang, TW 2001)

Once upon a time, 2001 was seen as a legendary year in a faraway future, thanks to the science fiction film 2001: A Space Odyssey; in 2026, we look back at that year – a harbinger of seismic changes that started to take place around the turn of the century. Gen Z and Alpha didn’t (consciously) experience the year 2001, but nevertheless see it as a reference point: for example, the Y2K nostalgia for clothing from that time, and the trend among young people for returning to analogue technology. Most of the films in this programme are screening in 35mm, from the Eye collection.

still from Pulse (Kiyoshi Kurosawa, JP 2001)

still Pulse (Kiyoshi Kurosawa, JP 2001)

Transitional period

Flip phones, file sharing (Napster) and dial-up internet, before the dawn of social media: 2001 is a perfect example of a transitional period in terms of technology – bringing both hopes and fears for the technological future.

It was also a spectacular film year that produced many films looking ahead to the coming century with a prescient gaze, both in their themes and form. In addition, 2001 was a memorable year for the film industry. During the early 2000s, a transition took place from analogue to digital, throughout the entire chain, from production to exhibition. The programme in Eye therefore also includes films making use of early CGI animation, which were then released on analogue 35mm film.

still from Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, FR 2001)

still Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, FR 2001)

9/11 & the calm before the storm

The year 2001 also brought watershed developments in global politics and culture. The 9/11 terror attacks and subsequent war in Afghanistan changed the world forever. Prior to 9/11, Western culture was drenched in irony and optimism – the calm before the storm – but in the wake of 9/11 a considerably more sombre atmosphere prevailed.

Many of the titles from 2001 retain their currency – whether in terms of social issues such as artificial intelligence, or revisiting Y2K aesthetics, or because they mark a cultural moment.

still from Mulholland Drive (David Lynch, US 2001)

still from Donnie Darko (Richard Kelly, US 2001)

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