I can never get anyone to watch this, maybe understandably, but his documentaries are all one-of-a-kind great.
this post was submitted on 26 Mar 2024
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I get why some people may not like the long cuts to stock footage with the creepy music, and just want the information. Someone went to the effort of making a 'History Teacher's Cut' of Bitter Lake that cuts out everything but the meat. I can see how that could be useful to get the information out there to people not interested in the dreamy aspect Curtis goes for.
Thanks for making me realize I never watched this one. I know what I'm doing tonight! Unedited cut, baby!
I'm digging it. Ty for the rec!
Yeah, let's the cut the art out of craft and reduce it to just facts sort of misses the point of Curtis though. They are about the vibe as much as the narrative.
His last work Traumazone, about Russia features no narration at all. It's just footage, very artfully edited. It invites you to feel for the narrative.
I don't disagree, but also, different strokes for different folks. They may not be getting the vibe, but the story he weaves is an important one to hear, so I'm glad there's a version for those who prefer it. The original intent of the edit was to make the information easier to discuss and reference in a classroom setting.
Having lived through the 80s and as someone with Russian relatives, TraumaZone is arguably as close as you can get to that time as living through it. As you say, it's about the vibe, and to understand modern Russia understanding that vibe really does matter. Arguably it should be required viewing for anyone who wants to comment on Russian politics.
I've posted a link to it above, but I'll do it again here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wf5lT7zR50&list=PL9eKQjNu1CogsfzC8DvZM0SgpujW2hVUD
it is very long and not easy to follow
ps. i think the documentary is also about how people have forgotten how to organise and take political power
If anything his documentary on the fall of the Soviet Union and Russia in the early nineties is even more essential viewing, especially now:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia_1985%E2%80%931999:_TraumaZone
Found it on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wf5lT7zR50&list=PL9eKQjNu1CogsfzC8DvZM0SgpujW2hVUD
Haven't seen that one either, thanks!
I like Adam Curtis but he has a Gaddafi bias. He has important ideas but I wouldn't take his word as fact.