The Brilliant Biograph: Earliest Moving Images of Europe (1897-1902)
NL, 2020 / 52 min.
Fifty films from the Mutoscope and Biograph collections held by Eye and the BFI have undergone digital restoration (8K). These one-minute time capsules are greatly prized for their unique resolution; these recordings from the earliest days of cinema are among the richest and sharpest images in the history of film.
This exceptional compilation film takes us back to life around 1900, when cities such as Berlin, Amsterdam and London were undergoing enormous growth; shots of an enchanting Venice – then mainly a tourist destination for the happy few – are also of truly stunning beauty.
The Mutoscope and Biograph Collection is the oldest film collection held at Eye Filmmuseum. It includes over 200 films, most of which made in Europe between 1897 and 1902. This constitutes the largest existing collection of Mutoscope and Biograph films surviving in the world.
Time capsules
These films are all photographed with the unique large-format 68mm Mutograph camera, which provided extraordinarily high-resolution images.
The films – in high quality (8K) – reflect the essence of early cinema: capturing the first-ever moving images of important events, famous locations and personalities, as well as spectacular moments such as dance and sports performances, or even natural phenomena like fire or storm, that only work when seen in motion.
With an especially composed score by Daan van den Hurk.
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Details
Production year
2020
Country
NL
Original title
The Brilliant Biograph: Earliest Moving Images of Europe (1897-1902)
Length
52 min.
Language
English
Subtitles
NLD
Format
DCP
Part of
Eye Classics
Eye’s collection includes a wealth of classics. With the Eye Classics series, Eye brings film history even closer. Every week, we screen at least three classics from the collection under one recognisable name: Eye Classics.
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