TFV's Matt Micucci shares an extensive conversation with the legendary American experimental filmmaker James Benning, who presented his latest film, Allensworth, in the Forum section of the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival.
The film centres on the title location, the first self-administered African-American municipality in California. A great starting point for a conversation covering several aspects of Benning's filmmaking and art, from the political nature of his works to his admiration of Henry David Thoreau.
(Featured photo: Berlinale)
CHAPTER
(00:00) Intro
(01:02) James Benning in Berlin
(03:37) Presenting "Allensworth" at the Berlinale
(07:11) Understanding things from paying attention
(08:04) Early film experiences
(10:48) Political films
(12:08) Is James Benning a cinephile?
(13:08) The influence of Henry David Thoreau's "Walden"
(14:02) Eadweard Muybridge
(15:42) Painting
(17:45) Seeing the world in a different way
(19:02) Love-hate relationship with technology
(22:35) Sleeping and working habits
(24:19) Teaching
(25:00) Outro
