Notes on the Cinematograph

Notes on the Cinematograph

Rating

7.5

The Pequod Review:

Robert Bresson's Notes on the Cinematograph is a collection of observations and aphorisms on various film-related topics. E.g.:

My movie is born first in my head, dies on paper; is resuscitated by the living persons and real objects I use, which are killed on film but, placed in a certain order and projected onto a screen, come to life again like flowers in water.

Hide the ideas, but so that people find them. The most important will be the most hidden.

When a sound can replace an image, cut the image or neutralize it.

Radically suppress intentions in your models.

The cinematographer is making a voyage of discovery on an unknown planet.

Empty the pond to get the fish. 

Many of these seem to be intentionally cryptic but there are enough useful insights that the book rewards a close reading.