The Man With a Movie Camera

Name: The Man With a Movie Camera
Genre: Documentary
Released: TODO_MISSING
Rating: 97

1929, Documentary, 1h 9m

39 Reviews 5,000+ Ratings

critics consensus

Groundbreaking in its exploration of the medium, Man with a Movie Camera is proof that cinema in and of itself can be a source of grand entertainment and sociological value. Read critic reviews

Big Deal on Madonna Street

Rent/buy from $2.99

Rent/buy from $3.99

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer
Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified.
Fandango

AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
- Fandango
- AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
  
  Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info
- Cinemark Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Regal Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

You can always edit your review after.
Are you sure?

Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.
Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

The Man With a Movie Camera Photos

View All Photos (10)

Movie Info

Part documentary and part cinematic art, this film follows a city in the 1920s Soviet Union throughout the day, from morning to night. Directed by Dziga Vertov, with a variety of complex and innovative camera shots, the film depicts scenes of ordinary daily life in Russia. Vertov celebrates the modernity of the city, with its vast buildings, dense population and bustling industries. While there are no titles or narration, Vertov still naturally conveys the marvels of the modern city.

Genre:

Documentary
Director:

Dziga Vertov
Writer:

Dziga Vertov
Release Date (Theaters):

Sep 16, 1929 original
Release Date (Streaming):

Feb 16, 1999
Runtime:

1h 9m
Distributor:

Kino Video, Amkino Corporation, Image Entertainment Inc.
Aspect Ratio:

Academy (1.33:1)

Cast & Crew

Dziga Vertov
Director

Dziga Vertov
Writer

Michael Nyman
Original Music

Caleb Sampson
Original Music

Mikhail Kaufman
Cinematography

Yelizaveta Svilova
Film Editing

Critic Reviews for The Man With a Movie Camera

All Critics (39) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (38) | Rotten (1)

Full Review… Kathleen Sachs Chicago Reader

Full Review… Tara Brady Irish Times

Full Review… Jonathan Romney Observer (UK)

Full Review… Trevor Johnston Little White Lies

Full Review… Ian Freer Empire Magazine

Full Review… Geoffrey Macnab Independent (UK)

Full Review… Michael Barrett PopMatters

Full Review… J.N. Thomas Berkeley Barb

Full Review… David Walsh World Socialist Web Site

Full Review… Oswell Blakeston Close Up

Full Review… Pamela Hutchinson Silent London

Full Review… Emjo Basshe The New Masses

View All Critic Reviews (39)

Audience Reviews for The Man With a Movie Camera

Feb 05, 2019

Not only Vertov's Kino-Eye and his revolutionary cinematic experiment were far ahead of their time in terms of formal innovation (introducing all sorts of techniques, such as multiple exposure, jump cuts and stop motion) but also made history as a reflexive, avant-garde societal record.

Carlos M Super Reviewer
Sep 17, 2016

While it is a Soviet propaganda film, Man With a Movie Camera achieved the impossible in one of the harshest conditions ever to produce an avant garde silent film about the lives of people living in Moscow (though shot at various locations). You can see the stark contrast of the dirty streets with the elegantly dressed people (bourgeoisie?), but Vertov did this in a way that hides a lot of the unpleasant things. The goal of the film was to create something that tells the "truth" but it really was a piece of work to encourage the productivity of the workers, though I highly doubt much improvement was procured after viewing this film. Nonetheless, it deserves a watch for its impressive camera works.

Sylvester K Super Reviewer
Jul 05, 2013

Ahead of it's time 100 years ago.

Marcus W Super Reviewer
Apr 18, 2013

Three and a half: not because I particularly enjoyed it, but because the techniques used here are miles and miles (read years and years) ahead of its time. Seems hugely influential, but I don't see that there is any real narrative/ulterior meaning, and that doesn't sit particularly well with me.

Jeff L Super Reviewer