It's the film that first opened my eyes to the art of film. I was 15 yrs old at the time and it had a very profound effect on me. 10 yrs passed and then one day I saw the film in it's entirety, broken into parts, on youtube. I re-watched it and once again was captivated and creatively inspired by it.
FILM IS TRUTH 24 FRAMES A SECOND
This is a quote by Jean-Luc Godard, and is used as the basis of the film. David Holzman is trying to solve the mystery of everyday life, trying to make sense of it. So he figures if he captures it all on film and watches it back it may make more sense and he can pick up on things that would normally pass him by. So he begins obsessively filming all aspects of his life, until it starts to unravel before him and he finds even less answers.
It's still so relative to today, in the age of reality television. There's a great monologue in one part of the film where a character explains that nothing that is in front of the camera and aware of the camera is natural, because of the conscious presence of the camera.
All in all though, I love the feel of the film, its shot in this brilliant black and white and the sequences where he films sweeping through the streets of 1960's new york just makes you feel like you're there, opening up and diving into an era so long gone.
My profile on here contains a movie review of the film.
This is extremely late I'm aware but you spoke so highly of the film that I decided to give it shot. Along with the fact that I have to pick a film for one of my classes and write a paper describing one aesthetic of it. I literally just finished watching it a few minutes ago and thought that I'd reply to this comment. I thought it was a little sad, in some ways boring, but in the most interesting way. I understand Holzman, I'm curious about what he's curious about. In a different life I'm sure I would've done the same as he. I would've crabbed a video camera and recorded my life in order to figure what I'm missing. Is there something in people that I'm not seeing? Is there something to life that I'm not seeing? Holzman posed an interesting question. That being said, there was nothing. At the end where he screams "What do you want!" I just felt bad for the guy. Cause in all honesty, he caught nothing on camera that was the truth. The only thing he caught was a bunch half truths as that guy said. I guess there was nothing there. I guess there maybe is nothing in our lives. I hope there is though. I'll admit that it is a very interesting premise and it's sort of sad that "nothing" was captured on film, as opposed to whatever truth we were all hoping to find.
That's amazing that you went and watched it. Thanks for your comment and sharing your opinion on it.
You have to remember that this film was made in 1967 but says more about our culture now than it did then. People everywhere these days are recording things, taking pictures of their lives, documenting everything. I can't go to a single live concert any more without seeing masses of people holding up cameras to record it. It's like they need to record it to see it later to verify to themselves that it actually happened, that they lived it. But they didn't live it, they were too worried about capturing it on film. And this is David Holzman's fate.
what is your favorite movie, and why?
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David Holzman's Diary of course!
It's the film that first opened my eyes to the art of film. I was 15 yrs old at the time and it had a very profound effect on me. 10 yrs passed and then one day I saw the film in it's entirety, broken into parts, on youtube. I re-watched it and once again was captivated and creatively inspired by it.
FILM IS TRUTH 24 FRAMES A SECOND
This is a quote by Jean-Luc Godard, and is used as the basis of the film. David Holzman is trying to solve the mystery of everyday life, trying to make sense of it. So he figures if he captures it all on film and watches it back it may make more sense and he can pick up on things that would normally pass him by. So he begins obsessively filming all aspects of his life, until it starts to unravel before him and he finds even less answers.
It's still so relative to today, in the age of reality television. There's a great monologue in one part of the film where a character explains that nothing that is in front of the camera and aware of the camera is natural, because of the conscious presence of the camera.
All in all though, I love the feel of the film, its shot in this brilliant black and white and the sequences where he films sweeping through the streets of 1960's new york just makes you feel like you're there, opening up and diving into an era so long gone.
My profile on here contains a movie review of the film.
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Anime7
9 years ago
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This is extremely late I'm aware but you spoke so highly of the film that I decided to give it shot. Along with the fact that I have to pick a film for one of my classes and write a paper describing one aesthetic of it. I literally just finished watching it a few minutes ago and thought that I'd reply to this comment. I thought it was a little sad, in some ways boring, but in the most interesting way. I understand Holzman, I'm curious about what he's curious about. In a different life I'm sure I would've done the same as he. I would've crabbed a video camera and recorded my life in order to figure what I'm missing. Is there something in people that I'm not seeing? Is there something to life that I'm not seeing? Holzman posed an interesting question. That being said, there was nothing. At the end where he screams "What do you want!" I just felt bad for the guy. Cause in all honesty, he caught nothing on camera that was the truth. The only thing he caught was a bunch half truths as that guy said. I guess there was nothing there. I guess there maybe is nothing in our lives. I hope there is though. I'll admit that it is a very interesting premise and it's sort of sad that "nothing" was captured on film, as opposed to whatever truth we were all hoping to find.
--
Holzman_67
9 years ago
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That's amazing that you went and watched it. Thanks for your comment and sharing your opinion on it.
You have to remember that this film was made in 1967 but says more about our culture now than it did then. People everywhere these days are recording things, taking pictures of their lives, documenting everything. I can't go to a single live concert any more without seeing masses of people holding up cameras to record it. It's like they need to record it to see it later to verify to themselves that it actually happened, that they lived it. But they didn't live it, they were too worried about capturing it on film. And this is David Holzman's fate.
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Holzman_67
9 years ago
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I found this great video essay on the film online, if you would like to take your interest further.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfiUVPkzc2k