Leaving Jerusalem by Railway

Starring: N/A
Directed by: Alexandre Promio
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Short, Documentary
Length: 43 seconds
1897

Times Seen:
Tim: 3

Summary: A train departs Jerusalem.

Review:

Tim: Leaving Jerusalem by Railway is an interesting film to me, because this is the first Lumiere film I've seen that is not directed by Louis Lumiere. I understand there are many out there, but this was the first I watched. It took me a long time to understand how this could be true. Why was this considered a "Lumiere" film if they didn't direct it? As I understand it, as their invention became more and more popular, their catalogue of films needed to grow. As part of that expansion, they included films shot by directors other than Louis Lumiere. These operators still used the same equipment and process, though. I could be totally wrong, but that's how I understand it, and I find that interesting.

This film features the interesting technique of placing the camera on the back of a moving train. We see it departing Jerusalem, as several people tip their hats goodbye. In the background are ruins, and what looks like a windmill. As the train picks up speed, we see dozens of other people, either walking or looking as the train departs. We pass the train station. The footage is all very beautiful, and it really was a great example of transporting the audience to a different place. Most viewers would never travel to Jerusalem, but through the power of the cinema, they could be there, in a way.

The film isn't overly interesting in and of itself. The footage is impressive, though. This wouldn't be my first choice of a film to recommend if you were looking for a pre-1900s film, but it's certainly worth 45 seconds of your time.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: N/A



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: N/A