Lichtspiel Opus 1Studies
The screening that started a career
A young engineer watched Ruttmann's painted shapes move in a Frankfurt cinema in 1921 and set out to make abstract films of his own.
Lichtspiel Opus 1
A film by Walter Ruttmann
Shapes painted on glass and cut from paper swell, collide and sweep across the screen, coloured by toning, tinting and hand-colouring. At its screenings Ruttmann played cello in the string quintet performing Max Butting's score.
More from Walter RuttmannFiled under Absolute film
Where it went next
Lichtspiel Opus 1