Film ist. 1–6

The question is not easy to answer, but the fact that it provokes so many contradictory answers is probably a good sign. Film is: yes, what actually? Dramatic. Or unreal. Surprising. Rousing. In the words of Gustav Deutsch: movement and time; light and darkness; or simply: a mirror. Deutsch found the grotesque, melodramatic and piquant material for Film ist., a multi-part work in progress, his long-term project and main work, in film archives, but also in private collections. The first six parts of the series concentrate on scientific film: on abysmal laboratory experiments on people, animals and things. (Stefan Grissemann)

Photo: Austrian Film Museum