Cinema All the Time: An Anthology of Czech Film Theory and Criticism, 1908-1939

by Translated by Kevin B. Johnson (Translator), eds. Jaroslav Andel and Petr Szczepanik (Editor)

This anthology assembles some of the earliest Czech texts on film published in the period between 1908 and 1939, i.e., between the rise of art cinema and the outbreak of World War II, writings that were instrumental in shaping the various ways film was seen and understood in this formative period. The authors include scientist Jan Evangelista Purkinje, whose studies of the perception of movement from 1819 and 1820 laid the foundation for the rise of the cinematic apparatus, and writers and critics Vaclav Tille and Karel Capek, who, years before their counterparts abroad, analyzed cinematic language as it was emerging, reflecting on its geneology, genres, and future development.

315 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, It's been enjoyable to read these essays from the dawn of the cinematic age (and the twentieth century). Reading about this novel new art, the differences between theater acting and film acting(Tille, Čapeks) and seeing the manifesto-like optimism about film, art, and the new dawning age of man (Tiege) from my perspective of almost 100 years hence has thus far been interesting.
There are a few articles about the art and methods of film. Again, these are written from the perspective of new discoveries. For me this made them more explicit and understandable. There are autobiographical notes on the contributors in this collection at the back of the book that are an informative addition. There were some creative, innovative people in the Czech lands in this field.