The Lumière Brothers First Films

Although I'm not enough of a mystic to truly believe in the idea of a calling, I was born on Dec. 28th, the same day movies began in 1895 (now that you know my birthday, please don't feel you need to send cards...without money). Or at least Dec. 28th is the "official version"; as I somewhat disappointingly discovered, the famous Lumière brothers (fathers of cinema) actually made their first film on Mar. 19th --but wait...if a film falls in the forest, does it...ok, enough already. That 50-second short-all the Lumière films were exactly the same length, due to the technical limitations of the camera--along with 84 others are presented in this pristine print of the beginning of the movies. French director Bertrand Tavernier offers insightful and humorous overlaid narration throughout (the first suspense film, beer commercial, tracking shot, and several other "firsts" are duly noted with urbane wit by the alternately reverential and playful Tavernier). Most of the films were shot in and around Lyons, but viewers will also see turn-of-the-century New York, Paris, Jerusalem, Moscow, and other sites. A must for any serious film collection, this is also warmly recommended for general collections. (R. Pitman)