breakfastcowl

Primary

Only logging this the once but I went back right after and watched it again with the "commentary" track (an interview with the filmmakers recorded a year later and edited to fit the runtime). On its surface it's a fascinating day-in-the-life, roving snapshot of a particular period in the 1960 Democratic primary race in Wisconsin between JFK and Hubert Humphrey. Just underneath, though, it is one of those amazing moments when the technology and artist's eye vibrate at the same frequency, where what was previously impossible becomes the immediate and all-demanding possible. Relatively lightweight and mostly unobtrusive camera gear & audio recording capability now suddenly in the hands of a photojournalist in their prime, ready and available for the shot with unparalleled access to the scene and subject. How wild to think this kind of presentation (which we now accept as par-for-the-course) couldn't even get aired originally on account of its exceptional, irregular format. Listening to their later conversation, they appear to be neck-deep in grasping for a set of creative principles they can quantify—pretty much right there at the vanguard!—and just how their brand new eye-level, feet-on-the-ground viewpoint relates to existing expression, journalistic integrity, and historical record. They make a big to-do about the "personality" of the operator/reporter, and how scenes are "conveyed" rather than merely shot. Their thoughts range from prescient to muddying the philosophical waters. They disagree with each other. They wax eloquent about just what they think they are getting at, three ways over. The summary of it all is basically that of a group of deeply excited, agitated artists with a rapidly expanding world of possibility; potentials exploding so quickly as to thwart their attempts to even codify an ounce of it. It's just a relatively short stroll from there to a phone camera in every pocket, capturing the something-anything-everything of our lives, our lives bending in answer to play to that that all-encompassing perspective. Humble beginnings. And hell, footnote: also a key component in the mythologizing of an American president. Very cool little film.

josie

Primary

can someone remind me why people act like jfk was the finest thing walking? is it the lack of attractive people in politics so he’s hot by comparison? i have no clue… anyways, this was kinda meh. huge letdown as a history nerd but i’m also sleepy as fuck so maybe that’s it.