In the late 1980s, thanks to the immediacy offered by the pocket camera, Nathaniel Dorsky began to shoot several reels of 8mm film, exploring the possibilities of improvisation. By projecting the material on 16mm, he was able to establish unexpected counterpoints via the format of the four images. Presented here as an installation, although also shown in this cycle in 16mm, MoMA's digitisation of 17 Reasons Why astonishingly preserves the original qualities of silent speed.
17 Reasons Why, Nathaniel Dorsky, United States, 1985-1987, 16 mm to digital, no sound, 20' [loop]. New digitisation courtesy of MoMA.
The film 17 Reasons Why will be screenend in Filmoteca de Catalunya on Saturday January 15th at 4.30pm. Other screenings from Nathaniel Dorsky and Jerome Hiler will take place in Filmoteca de Catalunya and Zumzeig Cinema during this week. For further information:
https://zumzeigcine.coop/cinema/films/blitz-40-nathaniel-dorsky/