The last film I saw at Sundance was another documentary. This was the only film I saw that was not in competition. These Amazing Shadows was at Sundance for its premier.
These Amazing Shadows is about the history of film in America and how the National Film Registry which is a part of the Library of Congress has been selecting 10 films a year for preservation based on their cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.
This was such a fascinating documentary to watch. They covered why the Library of Congress decided to start preserving films, how the films are selected, and the issues with preserving films. It also took a look at some of the most significant films in the registry and why they are there.
As always, I loved the Q&A with the directors. They discussed some of the difficulties in finding these films even just to add a few short clips to their documentary. Apparently over 50% of the films made before the 1930s (?) have already been lost because the movie industry didn't see them as being of value to keep around.
A very interesting trip through American film history.
No comments:
Post a Comment