Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Homevision
• VHS Release Date: June 20, 2000
• Run Time: 37 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0780019482
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #348,646 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This marvelous film about the French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson begins with a question mark, and while many of the questions posed remain unanswered, this documentary is a work of art. Filmed in color to resemble black and white, like the photographs for which Cartier-Bresson is so famous, this 1994 production captures the way in which he took quick photographs, with the rhythm and mood of the sequence of images. At times the piece is playful, with voices intoning critical viewpoints of him as a person and artist. Many of his best-known images are included in this 37-minute documentary. What surprises, however, is his life-long passion and interest in drawing. He takes sketches of masterpieces, of landscapes, of people. Speaking in English and also in French, with subtitles that summarize what he says, he comments on his art, noting that "you don't take a photograph, it's a photograph that catches you," and that "geometry is my greatest joy." While he finds portraiture the most difficult genre in photography, his portraits are evocative and capture what he looks for in a person, namely "the silence." Clips of films he directed are included that make it clear that his strength lies in what he calls "reportage," or documenting rather than creating a fictional narrative. Filmed with great sensitivity, this documentary avoids a chronological format, rather it is a sketch, in keeping with the artist's own work, and it's a rare treat and will appeal to everyone who enjoys a work of art. --Anne Barclay Morgan

Product Description

Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908- ) is widely regarded as one of the greatest photographers of the 20th century. Trained as a painter, the acclaimed photographer has produced an astonishing body of work from his journeys to Japan, China, Russia, the United Sta

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a luminous portrait, February 5, 2003

By 

mike griffin (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Henri Cartier - Bresson [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I have been a great fan of Cartier-Bresson since I first saw his work over 40 years ago. He is to me the greatest of photographers. This film is a beautiful, insightful, and honest portrait of a great artist. While some frames move too quickly and the text can be hard to absorb sometimes, it is a remarkable portrait.
While I respect Stephen Dominick's desire for a more detailed review of Cartier-Bresson's life and work, such an academic tract would not get to the heart and personality the way this film does.

5.0 out of 5 stars screened at the Getty, January 2, 2008

By 

Scarlet Lark (Reseda, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Henri Cartier - Bresson [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I *THINK* I saw this at the Getty Center a few years ago, as part of a film series accompanying the Photographers of Genius exhibition. There are plenty of formulaic biographies out there, and as one reviewer said, you can just look up a few good books about him (although this particular reviewer thought this information should have been in the film). As a photographer myself, I'm not so interested in his life story as I am about being able to actually watch a great photographer in action. This is a rare portrait indeed. I only wish I could find a film like this about Diane Arbus -- now THAT would be an interesting film!

1.0 out of 5 stars poor recording, August 5, 2004

By 

007 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Henri Cartier - Bresson [VHS] (VHS Tape)

the music is horrible. you cant hear what he or anyone is saying in the first half of the video. they have this creepy background music going on.

the content itself is ok. just some scattered this and that.