Post #1 Ballet Mechanique Review

Ballet Mecanique was one of the first abstract films to have existed during the 1920s. In this influential short film by Fernard, Leger and Dudley Murphy,  recognizable objects and people are used through the film in a mostly abstract fashion. So much so that by the end of the film, the audience’s perception is skewed and what was once recognizable is now broken up and seen a part of machinery. In terms of cinematography, the film was shot in black and white since color was not available until later years.

The editing strategy used was consistent throughout the film. The director chops up certain scenes and shows certain objects as rapid, moving parts so that the audience is focused on the simple shapes and movement of the object as opposed to the object itself. This is primarily what the filmmaker is trying to achieve- turning associational objects into abstract shapes and movements. The film ends by emphasizing how much the audience's perception of ordinary objects and people has been altered. The beginning and end has similar elements.