Othon Cinema’s new screening program, “Metaphors on Vision: A Brakhage Retrospective”, will take place on Friday evening, November 22, at Atlas 1948 Cinema!

Brakhage, with his perspective on cinema, his films, and his ideas, has always been a source of inspiration for us—both in the foundation of Othon and in the path we aim to follow. We are thrilled, proud, and delighted to present a selection of his films to our audience in one of the city’s most iconic and expansive cinema venues.

Stan Brakhage is one of the most significant experimental filmmakers of the 20th century. His films are often silent and lack traditional narratives, resembling visual poetry more than a conventional storyline. Brakhage frequently referred to his works as “visual music” or “visual thought.” As a pioneering figure in experimental cinema, he also influenced classical cinema in various ways, emphasizing that for him, the film itself is the essence. In this sense, Brakhage asserted that the first film ever made in history was, in fact, the first experimental film.

The length of his films varies greatly, ranging from a few seconds to several hours. In his works, Brakhage often painted directly onto film, etched images into the film emulsion, or employed collage techniques. Exceptionally prolific throughout his career, he created nearly 400 films—mostly in 16mm—spanning from early psychodramas to diary and mythopoetic filmmaking, ultimately culminating in a series of abstract films drawn directly onto celluloid.

At their core, all of Brakhage’s films question the nature of seeing. This program, titled “Metaphors on Vision”, pays homage to his seminal book of the same name and the profound cinematic philosophy it presents. As Brakhage himself notes in the preface to his book: “To see is to record, to become aware.”

Many thanks to dear Marilyn Brakhage for making this screening possible.

Screening Date: Friday 22 November

Time: 20.30

Location: Atlas 1948 Cinema Hall, Beyoglu/Istanbul