Pages From History of Cinematography

Yuri Neyman, ASC lecturer on “History of Cinematography” at American Film Institute, Allen Daviau, ASC (creative supervisor of the restoration of The Godfather), and Todd McCarthy (chief film critic at Variety) will be the moderators of this new screening series Pages From History of Cinematography that is part of Cine Gear Expo 2009. Panels will include distinguished art and cinema historians, cinematographers, and technologists who will discuss various aspects of the films and will take part in Q&A. Both screenings will start with a short slide show presentation telling the story of the film's creation. Highlighting each film’s main artistic and technical achievements.

These are two very different films from different parts of the world — one very well known worldwide, and another almost unknown in USA. They were selected for this inaugural presentation for one very compelling reason: Both films are cornerstones in the evolution of the motion picture camera’s art and craft, its might of visual expression, and the its power of storytelling.

Friday, June 5, 2009 - 9:30 a.m.
or
Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 9:30 a.m.

The Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors
Ukraine, 1964
 Director of Photography Yuri Illienko
Director Sergey Paradjanov

Price: $10
15% discount for ASC, ICG and Students

Location: Kodak Screening Theater

The Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors is a cult film in many countries of the world.

Roger Ebert wrote in 1978: “The Ukrainian film Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors won almost every, award in sight on the 1964 film festival circuit.”

Most of the scenes are filmed by Director of Photography Yuri Illienko with a handheld camera, often at a run, and hardly edited at all. The action takes place extremely rapidly, at times almost bewilderingly so. The dynamic camera in color continues and develops further and in more visually polyphonic style traditions of spiritual teacher of Yuri Illuenko, the iconic and legendary cinematographer Sergey Urusevski who gave us one of the most visually rich film in the history of cinematography I am Cuba (USSR, 1961).

In The Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors reality often melds into dream, into the colorless shades of the past. The film is highly symbolic, making frequent use of religious and folkloric images and Yuri Illienko powerfully uses color to represent many moods of the story. During Ivan's period of mourning, black-and-white film stock is used. In other scenes, colors are often muted, but provide a contrast to vivid use of primary colors. This color palette and the extremely dynamic camera gives a sense of underlying passion and struggle against destiny.
On its release, the film's presentation contrasted with the common social realism style that had government approval. After refusing to change the film, Parajanov was soon blacklisted from Soviet cinema. Yuri Illienko became a director and created many visually unforgettable films.

The Godfather
USA, 1972,
Director of Photography Gordon Willis, ASC
Director Francis Coppola

The Godfather will be shown in 4K on a Sony Digital projector. This version of the film is the truest account of the Willis-Coppola color and tonal vision, and it was created by a Warner Bros. team led  by distinguished cinematographer Allen Daviau, ASC.