Aimless Walk (Bezúčelná procházka) is an unconventional and complex 8-minute film directed by the Czech filmmaker Alexandr Hackenschmied, also known as Alexander Hammid. Released in 1930, the film falls within the experimental documentary genre and is a notable example of European cinema's avant-garde tradition. It has been mentioned alongside city symphony films such as Man with a Movie Camera and Manhatta.[1]
| Aimless Walk | |
|---|---|
| Czech | Bezúčelná procházka |
| Directed by | Alexandr Hackenschmied |
Release date |
|
Running time | 9 minutes |
| Country | Czechoslovakia |
| Language | Silent |
Synopsis
editThe film presents a non-conventional narrative, offering a visual journey through various urban landscapes. It begins with scenes devoid of human figures, focusing on tram rails, a tram in motion, and notable landmarks in Prague. The protagonist, a man in a suit, embarks on a journey out of the city, exploring the Libeň peninsula and showcasing semi-industrial areas, chimneys, factories, and the Vltava river. A unique doppelganger effect is introduced when the man sits on the grass, creating an intriguing visual sequence. The film concludes as the protagonist boards a tram heading back to Prague, leaving his double behind in Libeň.[2]
Context within the avant-garde
editThe film's context is linked to the historical avant-garde and the emergence of film as an art form in Czechoslovakia in the 1930.[3] Hackenschmied's work contributed to elevating film to an art form within the avant-garde movement, challenging traditional narrative structures and exploring innovative direction and movement techniques.
Reception
editAimless Walk challenges traditional narrative structures, offering a unique perspective on the city and incorporating the motif of the doppelganger. Described as the "first Czech avant-garde film of international significance"[4] the film deviates from the typical city symphony structure, presenting a distinctive and timeless perspective that transcends contemporary contexts of genre and style.
Films
editMartina Kudláček’s documentary Aimless Walk — Alexander Hammid (1996 by Česká Televize & Mina Film).
Further reading
edit- Anděl, Jaroslav. (2000). Alexandr Hackenschmied. Praha.
- Drubek, Natascha. (2012). "Bezúčelná Procházka" / "Aimless Walk" (1930): Alexander Hackenschmied's "Film Study" of a Tram Ride to the Outskirts of Prague — Libeň. Bohemia (Munich, Germany). 52. 10.18447/BoZ-2012-3749.
- "Aimless Walk." Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival.
- Anděl, Jaroslav. (2000). Alexandr Hackenschmied. Praha.
- Fabian, Jeannette. "Kinographie und Poesie. Zur Medienästhetik der tschechischen Avantgarde." In: Lüdeke, Roger/Greber, Erika (eds.). "Intermedium Literatur. Beiträge zu einer Medientheorie der Literaturwissenschaften." Göttingen, 2004.
References
edit- ^ "Aimless Walk (Bezúčelná procházka)".
- ^ Drubek, Natascha (2012). "Bezúčelná Procházka" / "Aimless Walk" (1930): Alexander Hackenschmied's "Film Study" of a Tram Ride to the Outskirts of Prague.
- ^ Viktoria, Hradská (1976). Česká avantgarda a film [Czech Avant-Garde and Film]. Čs. filmový ústav.
- ^ Michael, Omasta (2002). The Quiet Man, Bemerkungen zur Biografie und zu Bildern von Alexander Hammid.
External links
edit- Aimless Walk at IMDb
 | This article related to a Czech film of the 1930s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This article about a documentary film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |