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Tracing Light

  • 2024
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
32
YOUR RATING
Tracing Light (2024)
Documentary

Without light, there would be no cinema - and no life. Searching for the origin of images, this film delves into two worlds that explore the magic of light: physics and art.Without light, there would be no cinema - and no life. Searching for the origin of images, this film delves into two worlds that explore the magic of light: physics and art.Without light, there would be no cinema - and no life. Searching for the origin of images, this film delves into two worlds that explore the magic of light: physics and art.

  • Director
    • Thomas Riedelsheimer
  • Stars
    • Julie Brook
    • Ruth Jarman
    • Joe Gerhardt
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    32
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Thomas Riedelsheimer
    • Stars
      • Julie Brook
      • Ruth Jarman
      • Joe Gerhardt
    • 2User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos8

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    Top cast14

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    Julie Brook
    • Self
    Ruth Jarman
    • Self
    Joe Gerhardt
    • Self
    Johannes Brunner
    • Self
    Raimund Ritz
    • Self
    Daniele Faccio
    • Self
    Pascal Del'Haye
    • Self
    Michael Frosz
    • Self
    Robert Henke
    • Self
    Ashley Lyons
    • Self
    Phoebe Mills
    • Self
    Samuel Nerenberg
    • Self
    Birgit Stiller
    • Self
    Elliot Woods
    Elliot Woods
    • Self
    • Director
      • Thomas Riedelsheimer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews2

    6.332
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    Featured reviews

    7mrmanafon

    Good film, bad trailer

    I agree with other reviews on imdb that the movie has missed its mark by trying to bridge art and physics while not having a clear narrative vision. Artists will say outrageous and disconnected stuff, and that is perfectly fine in a film that focuses on the art, as their role in society is to attribute a cetrain magical spirit to what could otherwise be seen as pure math. Its a special skill. However they are placed in a situation where the narrative they are building is in stark contrast with the reality of physics which makes them feel out of place and detached from reality. The scientists are also put in a bad position, being asked to explain one of the most fascinating concepts around us, to folks who do not really listen, and instead nod their heads in confirmation and then attribute it to magic. Ar which point you can see the scientists give up and simply shield the artists by nodding their heads "yes we dont know where the light goes when it hits a black surface, perhaps it is magic". Bear with me - the film is actually good. It presents a fascinatingly wide spectrum of artistic work and instalations that deal with light, and showcases just how fluid light as an medium is and how important it is to human perception of the world. It rings back to anything from Olafur Eliassons work in participatory spaces curated with light to Kapoors vantablack, Klein blue as surface mediums, to the anthropological and animistic view of light. It makes you think. It does this well. But then, from time to time, it wakes you up from deep thought, by trying to up the stakes by forcing an interaction in segmented and unstructured conversation with the science behind light, which results in silly statements being hilighted into being cringe. If you can swallow that, the movie is excellent.
    2moocow-61598

    very sad

    Another collaboration with Fred Frith's music ? Should be good.

    Oh no.. what a disaster. Various artists announce that they are going to understand the nature of light. Some unfortunate physicists try to explain the particle wave duality to people who became artists because they were not much good at maths.

    From the artists side, they are obliged to say something profound. Has black taken the soul of the light ?

    If you come because you like the earlier filmmaker's collaboration with Frith, just wait for the soundtrack CD. It will be an easier way to hear the music and avoid this pretentious tedium.

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    Storyline

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • January 16, 2025 (Germany)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Germany
    • Official site
      • A website of the film
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Tracing Light - Die Magie des Lichts
    • Production companies
      • Filmpunkt
      • Sonja Henrici Creates
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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