On the film "When Timofeev Moves Everything Moves" by Ken Jacobs

I would like to share a short note about the film mentioned in the title. The ideas that emerge from here may be the subject of a future research. In short, I can say that I am taking notes for myself. Ken Jacobs makes a very important observation about movement in his film. This is perhaps a determination that forms the basis of cinema... What is the main movement? What is the first thing we see on the screen? In this particular film, we understand that it is Timofeev on the skateboard. Examining every movement of Timofeev also leads to examining other movements behind him that may not actually be important to the eye. As Jacobs divides the movement on the editing table, slows it down, and combines it with its negative, he also becomes the determinant of the movements behind Timofeev. This is a very philosophical approach to cinema, but the basic logic of mainstream cinema actually emerges from here. The main movement determines the other movements. It becomes a determinant. It becomes dominant. This constitutes the essence of the film as we know it.

Editing is a practice that fragments the screen. In addition to its dimensional expansion, it is still planar, but the linearity of the editing creates a fragmenting experience, contrary to all claims. As the screen divides, our minds also divide and each piece falls out of our pockets. If we pick up what's on the ground, maybe we can create something new and meaningful.

wanna read more on jacobs? look up: https://www.chutecoop.com/ken-jacobs-up-the-illusion

wanna be aware of “up the illusion 2023”? look up: https://80wse.org/exhibitions/ken-jacobs

wanna watch more of his films? look up: https://vimeo.com/kenjacobs