At first, one can discuss the movie Berlin: Symphony of a Metropolis directed by Walter Ruttman. It throws light on the life of Berliners in the late twenties. This movie does not have a distinct narrative. Instead, the director focuses on the life of people who represent different social classes and professions. The director employs several pioneering techniques. In particular, one should speak about montage editing, which means that the director combines a series of short shots. For instance, the director brilliantly juxtaposes the images of people with images of streets, vehicles, and buildings. As a result, he is able to create a versatile picture of Berlin, its residents, and various conflicts that these people try to resolve.
One can also discuss the film Man with a Movie Camera directed by Dziga Vertov. This film-maker also creates a documentary movie about the life of such cities as Moscow and Odessa in the late twenties. The movie is famous for many techniques, which were later used by other directors. For instance, one can speak about Dutch angles, slow motion, and tracking shots. Much attention should be paid to tracking shots that enable the director to depict moving objects. It is also critical to mention the use of Dutch angles, which means that the shot does not parallel the frame of the camera. This technique has often been applied in noir and neo-noir films, which were produced much later.
Furthermore, it is possible to examine such a movie Meshes of the Afternoon, directed by Alexander Hammid and Maya Deren. The film-makers attempt to create a metaphorical description of the relationship between a man and a woman. The movie does not have a distinct narrative line. In turn, the authors demonstrate how domestic life can affect a woman. On the whole, the film-makers apply several cinematographic techniques. In particular, one should speak about the use of oblique camera angles, which help them create a sense of surrealism and suspense. These are the main elements that can be singled out.
Moreover, one can examine such a film as The Fall of the House of Usher directed by James Watson. It is a horror film that is partly based on Edgar Poe’s short story. The director applies various techniques in order to reflect the feeling of horror experienced by the narrator of Poe’s short story. Much attention should be paid to the use of prisms that are necessary for the creation of optical distortions. This technique was later applied by other directors. Additionally, this film does not have any dialogue, but the actors skillfully demonstrate how non-verbal behavior can reflect the feelings of an individual.
Finally, it is possible to mention An Andalusian Dog, which was created by Salvador Dali and Luis Bunuel. This film can be viewed as one of the most famous avant-garde films. This film does not include a distinct narrative. Instead, this movie incorporates a series of scenes that have common themes. Overall, this work illustrates the brilliant use of close-up shots and montage editing. For instance, one can speak about the famous opening scene of this film. Additionally, Luis Bunuel is one of the directors who pioneered the use of tracking shots, and this technique proved to be valuable for the production of this film. Apart from that, the movie incorporates many visual symbols that can be interpreted from various perspectives. Overall, An Andalusian Dog can be viewed as a great example of surrealism in cinematography.