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From Amazon.co.uk
As you might guess from the rather impertinent possessive in the title, Michael Nyman's Man with a Movie Camera is a re-release of Dziga Vertov's 1929 experimentalist classic provided with a score by Michael Nyman. Those who know and love Nyman's music--and come to that, those who know and dislike it--will know pretty well what to expect: fluent orchestral minimalism turned out by the yard. The mood and the tempo scarcely vary, no matter what Vertov's showing us or how fast or slow the rhythm of his cutting. The effect is to tone down the excitement and audacity of Vertov's ideas and render them safe and even a touch bland.
If you're a Nyman fan, this is definitely for you. Otherwise, the earlier BFI release of the same film has not one but two alternative scores: a pounding, heroic, forward-with-the-Soviets affair from the Alloy Orchestra, closely based on Vertov's own notes of the kind of orchestral accompaniment he wanted for his film; and a second from the progressive group In the Nursery, gentler and more expressionist, drawing on state-of-the-art music technology. (As a third option, the BFI release includes a well-informed voice-over commentary from film historian Yuri Tsivian.)
On the DVD: Michael Nyman's Man with a Movie Camera comes to DVD packed in a hinged square metal tin reminiscent of the ones that hold small Dutch cigars. There are printed biogs of Vertov and Nyman, the latter rather cloyingly fulsome ("a man of impeccable musical credentials"). The transfer is excellent and pretty well complete; a few minor blemishes where the original nitrate stock had deteriorated scarcely detract. --Philip Kemp
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
I first saw this on the big-screen and it stands up as one of the few films I could have watched again immediately. For an experimental film from 1920's Russia (an experimental and exciting time for the arts all round in the early years of the Soviet state) it's stood the test of time remarkably well. Yes it's 'arty', yes, it could be accused of self-indulgence, but it works! It has trick shots, odd camera-angles, multiple images and serves as a fascinating insight into a day in the life of a Soviet city. The the man with the movie camera himself makes regular intrusions into frame.
And the new soundtrack by In the Nursery works well too - it's not exactly cutting-edge, but its pleasant, electronic soundwashes sit well with the film and never try to overpower it. It's been criticised somewhat unfairly, but after all,Dziga was using the most up-to-the-minute technology he could get, so I'm sure he wouldn't mind.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
This has got to be the definitive DVD version of Vertov's Man With a Movie Camera.
The choice of two scores plus a separate commentary track makes this package even more appealing. Most notable score is by In The Nursery who manage to produce a musical blendof the symphonic with the modern, the ambient with the danceable and the acoustic with the synthetic.
The choice of two scores plus a separate commentary track makes this package even more appealing. Most notable score is by In The Nursery who manage to produce a musical blendof the symphonic with the modern, the ambient with the danceable and the acoustic with the synthetic.
Watching Vertov's masterpiece with In The Nursery's specially commissioned score makes each and every viewing a new voyage of discovery. A highly recommended purchase indeed.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Dziga Vertov, 1929, definitely not the kind of movie to watch on a saturday night with friends.
But a must see for those interested in the history of film. As this "movie" was produced - 77 years ago -, the concept of film was completely different to what it is now. This shows how a man, without the filmic knowledge of a present-day director, manages to make breath-taking scenes never shot before.
Dziga Vertov, can probably be seen as one of the inventors of the first long running movies.
A must see, and an historical masterpiece!
But a must see for those interested in the history of film. As this "movie" was produced - 77 years ago -, the concept of film was completely different to what it is now. This shows how a man, without the filmic knowledge of a present-day director, manages to make breath-taking scenes never shot before.
Dziga Vertov, can probably be seen as one of the inventors of the first long running movies.
A must see, and an historical masterpiece!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
bad picture qualitye
Great film, very bad transfer. Described elsewhere on the interwebs as having the "ugly look of a VHS copy". I have it on VHS and it looks better than this. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Zarg
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sound Track doubtful
This is one of those many old films that film buffs tend to read about. It had a sort of uninspiring title but it is well worth watching. Vertov ( not his real name. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Graham Harris
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enthusiastic industrialism
A short but great film from the Soviet Union in the late 20s of last century at the time of the new silent film technology. Read more
Published on 17 May 2011 by Jacques COULARDEAU
5.0 out of 5 stars
Man with a movie camera
Fascinating - shows live street scenes which are now a historical record plus the ingenuity of the camera work and editing
Published on 17 Sep 2010 by Mrs. R. Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Living Russia," or "The Man with a Camera"
A well designed film by Dziga Vertov's that looks like a documentary than show the man and the city. Read more
Published on 26 April 2010 by bernie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hidden gem
I first heard this piece live in Bristol when Michael Nyman and band were performing there. It was a unique combination of old silent docu-movie with Nyman's genius superimposed... Read more
Published on 30 Jan 2010 by David Fairweather
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hidden gem
I first heard this piece live in Bristol at a Michael Nyman concert, and was blown away with it. I bought the DVD expecting it to be a poor relation to the live performance. Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2010 by David Fairweather
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mad Russian with a Movie Camera
This is a hoot of early silent invention raised to the point of genius. It does go on past the patience of some of us, as does Nyman's score, but it's worth it. Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2010 by Alan Tucker
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Living Russia," or "The Man with a Camera"
A well designed film by Dziga Vertov's that looks like a documentary than show the man and the city. Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2009 by bernie
3.0 out of 5 stars
Experimental...And That's the Problem
Simply Vertov's "silent masterpiece"on russian life is not all it's cracked up to be.Certainly there are some startling(a birth) and beautiful(the expansive streets in the quiet of... Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2009 by Mark Pearce
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