VISIONS OF LIGHT: THE ART OF CINEMATOGRAPHY

Cleverly structured and compiled, this fascinating documentary brings audiences face to face with 26 leading cinematographers talking about their work and the work of others, and combines these interviews with dozens of well-chosen excerpts from famous films. At a time of expanded interest in the way films are made, this revealing study of the cinematographer's job of putting images on film is constantly absorbing and frequently exciting. The camera people herein all have perCinent observations about why they photographed certain films the way they did, and about how past cinematographers' work has influenced them. The 125 or so film clips encompass a visual history of mostly US films. From beautiful closeups to sweeping crane shots, this elegant and insightful chronicle provides a new appreciation of that overworked phrase, “the magic of the movies,” and proves once again the American film at its best is truly an art form. -Gerald Pratley, Variety.