In our fast-paced world, films are created, consumed and then cast aside. According to global data, around 8,748 films are made every year, with only 20% reaching audiences and the other 80% failing to hit screens worldwide. Out of dissatisfaction with this consumerist culture, a genre of art cinema — slow cinema — has evolved. Around the end of World War II, this alternative way of making films was introduced by European directors such as Andrei Tarkovsky and Michelangelo Antonioni. However, the genre was further developed by Asian directors like Yasurijo Ozu and Apichatpong Weerasethakul around 1993. These days, more and more slow cinema films are being released, with movies like “Spoon” and “Vitalina Varela,” both made in 2019, as well as “Absence” and “An Elephant Sitting Still,” both made in 2018.
Centered around minimalism, slow cinema captivates its audiences and pushes them to look beyond what is directly in front of them. Instead of focusing on the narration or plotline, slow cinema transforms the film experience into something unprecedented. With minimal dialogue, the genre emphasizes each moment that happens in real time. This allows viewers to immerse themselves in the film, feeling as if they are standing there with the characters themselves.
These days, slow cinema is gaining popularity thanks to streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu, which are able to help slow cinema reach wider audiences. Because many people are able to access these streaming services, they can watch these stress-relieving movies from the comfort of their homes. Since most slow films might struggle to find an audience in traditional theaters, they reach more viewers through these platforms as they give these films a chance to be discovered by those who might not seek them out otherwise.
Another reason why slow cinema is becoming more popular is that many people are seeking an increased contemplative and immersive viewing experience. Through unconventional storytelling, slow cinema invites its viewers to experience a film where mindfulness is present, allowing viewers to get lost in the various parts of the movie. Other factors that contribute to the immersive experience is the slow pace of the cinema and the little nuances, such as setting and character expression, that are emphasized greatly. For example, most films have occasional panels meant to show the viewer the setting, which allows them to reflect on their emotions and tie their personal feelings into the film. These panels foreshadow later scenes in the movie by giving the audience a preview based on the weather and other details that occur during these b-rolls.
The perfect example of a well-conducted slow film would be “2001: A Space Odyssey” by director Stanley Kubrick, inspired by Arthur Charles Clarke’s book with the same name. This sci-fi piece is centered around a connection between the past and the future through an imposing black monolith. In its iconic first sequence, “The Dawn of Man,” a panel of prehistoric Africa with a tribe of apes is shown, utilizing b-roll to foreshadow the next scene. When a mysterious black pillar appears before the tribe the next day, it triggers a change in the animals as they quickly erupt with fear. Each ape becomes more curious, coming closer and touching the monolith in an almost religious fervor. Later on, we see how another nearby enemy tribe attempts to drink from the ape’s watering hole, but the ape’s chief uses his newfound knowledge: the bone, as a weapon, attacking the enemy tribe. The director uses this scene to convey a message that in order for a society to advance, conflict must occur.
Slow films are different from just any regular old cinema you watch at the movies. In “2001: A Space Odyssey,” we see how the director conveys deep messages to his viewers and creates a representation of how we must live with intention. Each scene in the movie was carefully crafted with lots of thought and effort going into each one, and each individual scene carries more weight as they all contribute to the overall aesthetic and feel of the film. Through these extended, emphasized takes, directors expect audiences to take away life lessons and value the depth of the film more than anything else.
Though the genre may appear niche, slow movies are a necessary counter-culture against our fast-paced cinema. As opposed to the binge-watching and short attention spans that are common these days, slow cinema tests our patience with its long takes and sparse dialogue. Unlike the fast-paced movies of today, slow cinema is able to break apart these action-packed scenes into segments that flow better and are more focused on the atmosphere and mood of the movie.
The peacefulness of the genre demands patience from its viewers, forcing them to contemplate the characters’ decisions and wonder what they would have done differently if they were in that situation. Audiences are requested to sit and contemplate emotions that surface in moments during the movie, creating a personal connection to the film.
The beauty of slow cinema lies in the fact that it romanticizes the small moments in life: a walk by the beach, a scene across a beautiful flower field. The genre’s ability to immerse its viewers in the film makes it prominent among other movies. While watching a slow film, you feel as if reality has been paused, bringing the viewer from our faulty world to a faultless one. If you are looking for a movie that can remind you to experience and savor memories while in the moment, the genre of slow cinema is one to check out.
