Time and Cinema (Part 3)
If you missed the previous parts:
Time is not just a backdrop but a crucial character in itself, shaping narratives, emotions, and the very essence of our existence. Imagine the works of Tarkovsky or Bergman, where time, beyond a mere sequence of events, is a profound journey into the human soul.
![Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker: Tracking the Unknowable - Reactor Andrei Tarkovsky's Stalker: Tracking the Unknowable - Reactor](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F75474776-a9fa-4c05-8159-23ef011962b6_740x385.jpeg)
Take Tarkovsky’s “Stalker,” for example. Here, time bends and stretches, becoming a reflective pool where characters confront their deepest desires and fears. It’s not about the ticking clock but about the moments of introspection and the moral odyssey. This is where cinema transcends its medium, offering a canvas for viewers to explore their own timelines and spiritual growth.
Memory, History, Evolution: The Fabric of Identity
Memory, too, is a cornerstone in this exploration. Without memory, time loses its texture. It’s the threads of our past that weave the tapestry of our identity. Films like “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” delve into this interplay of time and memory, showing how our recollections shape our reality and sense of self. Losing memory is like losing a part of ourselves, a theme poignantly captured in countless films.
![Mind Games and Broken Hearts: Jim Carrey and Michel Gondry on Making Eternal Sunshine | Vanity Fair Mind Games and Broken Hearts: Jim Carrey and Michel Gondry on Making Eternal Sunshine | Vanity Fair](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F56a323bc-32dc-48fb-9730-ae3fe45ce017_2000x1125.jpeg)
Historical and evolutionary perspectives of time remind us that our existence is but a fleeting moment in the grand scheme. Yet, it is through these fleeting moments that we find meaning and purpose. Consider Malick’s “The Tree of Life,” where the span of a single human life is juxtaposed against the vastness of the cosmos. This contrast amplifies the beauty of individual moments while grounding us in the continuum of history.
Directors Manipulating Time
Cinema’s power lies in its ability to capture and manipulate time. A director’s vision, from conception to execution, is all about playing with temporal elements. Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” and “Inception” are masterclasses in this, bending time to explore deeper philosophical questions. More than technical wizardry, it’s the moral and psychological depths that these films plumb, making us reflect on our own place in time.
The director’s role in this temporal exploration cannot be overstated. They are the architects of time whose narratives challenge our perceptions and engage our moral compasses. Whether it’s through the lyrical pacing of an Ozu film or the frenetic energy of a Godard piece, the director’s touch defines how we experience time.
The Aesthetic of Aging: The Japanese Concept of Saba
Artistic representations of time are not confined to the West. The Japanese concept of “saba,” the appreciation of aging and decay, offers a beautiful counterpoint. This aesthetic, seen in everything from pottery to cinema, embraces the natural passage of time, finding beauty in imperfection. Films like “After Life” by Kore-eda Hirokazu capture this sentiment, where the essence of a moment is preserved and cherished.
Each art form, whether cinema or literature, follows its own laws. The visual immediacy of film contrasts with the descriptive nature of literature. Yet, both draw from the well of human experience. They shape our understanding of time in unique ways. Proust’s literary exploration of memory and time finds its cinematic counterpart in the meticulous attention to temporal detail in Wong Kar-wai’s films.