This film is part of Free
Grandma's Reading Glass
A boy examines things through his Grandmother’s magnifying glass, and early film takes a huge step forward.
Trick film 1900 1 mins Silent
Overview
In this innovative play on perspective from GA Smith, a boy examines things through his Grandmother’s magnifying glass… and film grammar takes a huge step forward. Unlike the neutral observations of actuality films, or filmed theatre (as some early film has been pejoratively termed) this film deploys what would become known as the point of view shot. This is just one example of how the playfulness and inventiveness of the early film pioneers directly shaped the evolution of film as a visual language.
Subjects
Related
Inventing Film Language
As Seen through a Telescope As Seen through a Telescope
Comedy 1900 1 mins Silent
A peeping Tom gets a shocking glimpse of stocking in this early take on film voyeurism.
Countryman and the Cinematograph Countryman and the Cinematograph
Comedy 1901 0 mins Silent
A country yokel gets a shock in an early example of a 'film within a film'.
Fire! Fire!
Drama 1901 5 mins Silent
A dramatic rescue from a burning building by heroic firemen is one of our most important films
Let Me Dream Again Let Me Dream Again
Comedy 1900 1 mins Silent
Harsh reality interrupts an older man's reverie of flirting with a pretty young woman
Undressing Extraordinary; Or, The Troubles of a Tired Traveller Undressing Extraordinary; Or, The Troubles of a Tired Traveller
Trick film 1901 2 mins Silent
Entertaining example of early 'special effects'
The Big Swallow The Big Swallow
Comedy 1901 1 mins Silent
A classic early film gag - and a big leap forward for a fast-evolving new art
New
Filmmakers in Focus: Márta Mészáros Filmmakers in Focus: Márta Mészáros
Inside Film 2021 43 mins
Film critic Tara Judah and film scholar Catherine Portuges explore the work of trailblazing Hungarian filmmaker Márta Mészáros.
We the Ragamuffin We the Ragamuffin
1992 26 mins Location: Peckham
Julian Henriques' urban musical showcases the style, vernacular and vibrancy of British Caribbean Dancehall culture.
Two Dosas Two Dosas
Comedy 2014 16 mins Location: London
Geeky Pavan takes his 'English Rose' on a date to the most authentic Indian restaurant in the city. To his horror she goes off-menu, in Hindi...
Homeland Trilogy Homeland Trilogy
Documentary 2017 7 mins
A trilogy of short documentaries mapping out the personal migration stories of the filmmaker's family.
Taarof: A Verbal Dance Taarof: A Verbal Dance
Drama 2019 16 mins
When Nazanin attends her estranged fathers funeral she is compelled into womanhood, by rebelling against the ideals of what it is to be an Iranian woman.
Sorry, My Somali Is Not Very Good Sorry, My Somali Is Not Very Good
Drama 2021 3 mins
A look into a young Somali woman who is having difficulties speaking her mother tongue.