Continuity
Continuity is a technique used in photography where varied images and camera angles are sequenced together to create the illusion of fluidity.
Francis Alys' experimental documentary--"Reel/Unreel"--featuring a couple of kids reeling and unreeling two spools of film down the streets of Kabul, reflects the notion of 'reel' and 'unreel' throughout its entirety, matching the meaning of the title with the video's editing and playing with the meaning of reel vs real, and unreel vs unreel.
When watching the film during class I took note of important events and changes that I noticed in the video from start to finish. I observed the repetition of certain scenes and ideas throughout, such as, kids running into the busy street, a sky view of helicopters featured in a few scenes, a heard of goats going by on two different occasions, and fire, which came up several times towards the end. These events and things just seem like the truth. But, I also noted the not-so-subtle differences in scenes that seem to either be a mirage or a set. These illusions and planned events were from the different variations of viewpoints the camera made, the child in the black attire trying to catch up to the kid in white, the bright pastel palette of balloons going by a walkway, and the two reels the kids had appearing disconnected in most of the film and united at other times. I think these clues give the impression that this optimistic-feeling video may not be so optimistic and the subtexts at the end saying that the Taliban confiscated film reels from Kabul with a fire lasting for days, help to justify that.
Francis Alys' experimental documentary--"Reel/Unreel"--featuring a couple of kids reeling and unreeling two spools of film down the streets of Kabul, reflects the notion of 'reel' and 'unreel' throughout its entirety, matching the meaning of the title with the video's editing and playing with the meaning of reel vs real, and unreel vs unreel.
When watching the film during class I took note of important events and changes that I noticed in the video from start to finish. I observed the repetition of certain scenes and ideas throughout, such as, kids running into the busy street, a sky view of helicopters featured in a few scenes, a heard of goats going by on two different occasions, and fire, which came up several times towards the end. These events and things just seem like the truth. But, I also noted the not-so-subtle differences in scenes that seem to either be a mirage or a set. These illusions and planned events were from the different variations of viewpoints the camera made, the child in the black attire trying to catch up to the kid in white, the bright pastel palette of balloons going by a walkway, and the two reels the kids had appearing disconnected in most of the film and united at other times. I think these clues give the impression that this optimistic-feeling video may not be so optimistic and the subtexts at the end saying that the Taliban confiscated film reels from Kabul with a fire lasting for days, help to justify that.
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