Customer Reviews
Sensational early cinema - By: Ian Shine, 12 Feb 2008 
I picked this up on the cheap because I like silent cinema & have an interest in Russia, despite never having heard of Bauer before. Having watched the three films included on this DVD, it's a mystery to me why Bauer is so unknow. These films are absolutely beautiful - both in their subject matter & in the way Bauer shot them. His use of colour & tints; his mis-en-scene; his pace of storytelling - everything is almost perfect. Of the three, I'd pick the final film, 'The Dying Swan' as the standout work. It seems to mark a culmination of alll the things Bauer was striving for in the other two films: tragic love; inventive cinema & camerawork (which he possibly overdoes a little bit in the second film, 'After Death' - there are possibly too many special effects, & this detracts from the story a little, making it a little kitsch from today's perspective). Considering his film career spanned only four years, he clearly learnt quickly. After watching these three, I'm eager to hunt down the other 17 films of his that survive. This is essential watching for any film fan, but particularly anyone interested in the beginnings of cinema. It's better than Dr Caligari; it's better than Metropolis; it's better than most of the hailed works of genius from the period.
Seminal Russian - By: , 20 Feb 2003 Evgenii Bauer started making films in 1913 & died in 1917. During those four years he apparently made some eighty films of which only 20 survive. This disc gives a selection of three fifty-odd minute films from 1913, 1915 & 1916. They reveal a highly innovative, creative cinematic mind which would surely have given a truly great legacy if he had not died so prematurely. From the evidence here I want to see the other 17 films! Bauer's elegantly restrained realisation of his art is quite astonishing, with some wonderful, gliding dollying & panning & some mesmerising dream sequences. All three films are accompanied by speciallly commissioned music which complements the visual material beautifully. Ripping stuff!!! The disc also has an extremely well observed, informative & erudite video essay by Yuri Tsivian. A great disc from the British Film Instute. Anyone with an interest in the beginnings of cinema should buy this now!!!!
These forgotten masterpieces - By: , 12 Jul 2002 I had not heard of the Director Bauer but he is a master of early cinema. Three stories of doomed love - beautifully photographed, romatic, haunting & with beautiful new scores plus a great introduction by Yuri Tsvian who seems to be on so many DVDs. I loved this disc. Well done to the chaps at The Institute for releasing this.
A fan of the gothic
