Up until recently, the majority of 3D films that received nationwide theatrical releases have been mostly family friendly fiction films - Alice in Wonderland (2010) Avatar, (2009), A Christmas Carol (2009). Yet, in the past two months two giants of European cinema have released 3D documentaries that have received more press attention that any previous 3D films that have not fallen into the canon noted above. These films are Werner Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams and Wim Wenders’ soon to be released Pina. Now therefore feels like a good time to discuss the merits of 3D and its seemingly non-stop advancement into all avenues of cinema.
3D is a tricky concept and divides people on whether it works or not. For some, it is noticeable but not a distraction. For others, it is a major distraction and will never, in its current form, work. Even in the case of Avatar, which surpasses any 3D film to date, with its advanced employment of the new technology. There are many advocators and detractors of 3D. Perhaps the most influential detractor is Walter Murch, one of the most respected film editors and sound designers in modern cinema. Murch acknowledges the problems many may have encountered (darkness of the screen, closeness of the borders) are problems, but ones that can be fixed. The deeper issue, that cannot be fixed, is, according to Murch, the convergence and focus issue. Murch claims that our eyes must converge on an image that is changing direction – is it 10 feet away, 80 feet, 120 feet? – and therefore are eyes are focusing on one distance and converging on another, which defies evolution. As an editor, Murch claims that the technology cannot be compatible with our eyes. The full article by Murch can be read here: http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2011/01/post_4.html
Wenders’ Pina is a documentary that captures some key performances of renowned choreographer Pina Bausch. Bausch had repeatedly asked Wenders to film her work, but he could think of no way to improve on what already existed. Then he saw the advancements that 3D had made and saw an opportunity to do what Baush had always demanded. Of 3D, Wenders says that it allows for the “discovery of space…In 3D there is this other dimension: the film is inside the dancers’ very own realism.” Expect future Wenders’ films to make use of 3D.
Of Cave of Forgotten Dreams this is certainly the case. The 3D does add another dimension to the caves and allows us to get a sense of the depth that 2D does not offer. More importantly for the film, it allows us to really get excited and involved in what the cave’s discovers got excited about. While a 2D image can be interesting and the story behind it fascinating, with 3D we see the contours of the cave, feel the claustrophobia and understand the difficulty in the discovery. As this doesn’t detract from the cultural importance on the cave drawings, it only adds to the effect of the documentary. For those that find 3D a distraction, this obviously is not the case and the 2D film will allow them to experience the full benefit of Herzog’s hard work.
Unlike Wenders, Herzog has not been converted to 3D by his use in Caves, although of seeing the cave for the first time claims “it was imperative to do it in 3D”. Herzog’s main criticism of 3D is worth repeating: “When you see a romantic comedy…we as an audience live and develop through a parallel story – we hope and pray that our young lovers should, against all obstacles, find each other by the end. In 3D you only have what is in 3D and nothing beyond – it’s a very strange effect…you can shoot a porno film in 3D, but you cannot film a romantic comedy in 3D.”
So, as can be seen, the question of 3D’s validity to cinema is not only a question amongst audiences, but filmmakers, too. What is certain is that Cave of Forgotten Dreams is a fascinating story of how culture develops and an incredible glimpse into the life of man 32,000 years ago. The 3D, while far from being hidden, adds to the story, especially those parts within the cave. The film may prove to do more for the advancement of 3D than Avatar did as it expands the technology into new genres.
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