Manchester University Press
2 The early years: 1950–1961
Abstract
The first decade of Chris Marker's filmmaking career encompasses what Chris Darke terms the 'lost period' of his oeuvre. In this early period, Marker collaborated on a number of projects. His finely tuned skills in this capacity are evidenced from the outset in the richness and beauty of his poetic commentaries published in the first volume of the 1961 Seuil publication, Commentaires. Marker establishes himself as a globetrotter. Begun in 1950 and completed in 1953, his film Les Statues meurent aussi was commissioned by the organisation Présence Africaine. Death is the leveller of manifold differences within this documentary that moves between statues and human beings from the outset. Marker's voyage to Helsinki inaugurated a decade of travel across several different continents, which began with a visit to China. Olympia 52, Dimanche à Pékin, Lettre de Sibérie, Description d'un combat, and Cuba Si! are some films Marker has directed..
Abstract
The first decade of Chris Marker's filmmaking career encompasses what Chris Darke terms the 'lost period' of his oeuvre. In this early period, Marker collaborated on a number of projects. His finely tuned skills in this capacity are evidenced from the outset in the richness and beauty of his poetic commentaries published in the first volume of the 1961 Seuil publication, Commentaires. Marker establishes himself as a globetrotter. Begun in 1950 and completed in 1953, his film Les Statues meurent aussi was commissioned by the organisation Présence Africaine. Death is the leveller of manifold differences within this documentary that moves between statues and human beings from the outset. Marker's voyage to Helsinki inaugurated a decade of travel across several different continents, which began with a visit to China. Olympia 52, Dimanche à Pékin, Lettre de Sibérie, Description d'un combat, and Cuba Si! are some films Marker has directed..
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- List of plates vii
- Series editors’ foreword ix
- Acknowledgements xi
- 1 Introduction 1
- 2 The early years: 1950–1961 11
- 3 A second beginning: 1962–1966 38
- Plates 67
- 4 Collective endeavour: 1967–1977 73
- 5 Continuity and change: the 1980s 112
- 6 To Level 5 and beyond: 1990 onwards 142
- 7 Conclusion 185
- Filmography 187
- Select bibliography 196
- Index 199
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- List of plates vii
- Series editors’ foreword ix
- Acknowledgements xi
- 1 Introduction 1
- 2 The early years: 1950–1961 11
- 3 A second beginning: 1962–1966 38
- Plates 67
- 4 Collective endeavour: 1967–1977 73
- 5 Continuity and change: the 1980s 112
- 6 To Level 5 and beyond: 1990 onwards 142
- 7 Conclusion 185
- Filmography 187
- Select bibliography 196
- Index 199
