Irish Film Institute -JDIFF 2013 (REEL ART): NATAN

JDIFF 2013 (REEL ART): NATAN

Director: DAVID CAIRNS, PAUL DUANE

66 minutes, Ireland, Black and White and Colour, DCP


Reel Art is an Arts Council scheme designed to provide film artists with a unique opportunity to make highly creative, imaginative and experimental documentaries on an artistic theme. Taking in all facets of artistic creation, Reel Art documentaries are themselves evocative and challenging celebrations of a unique vision.

Why was Bernard Natan’s name erased from the history of cinema, despite dominating the French film industry for the 1920s and ‘30s? How is it that what little attention is paid to him centres on his alleged career as a pioneer and performer in early gay and BDSM porn? David Cairns and Paul Duane have excavated an extraordinary tale that aims to rewrite the history of European cinema and give Natan his rightful place back. The man who brought sound cinema to France and Cinemascope to the screen before the word existed came to an end so shockingly tragic that it seems unbelievable. Rumours and lies have swarmed around his story for decades; this documentary finally brings the truth to light. 

Paul Duane will attend the screening and will participate in a Q&A.

Screening as part of the Reel Art programme at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival 2013. Tickets for this event are only available to buy through JDIFF. Please telephone: 01 687 7974 or visit the website at www.jdiff.com

Other JDIFF screenings at the IFI in February are A Tribute to Kieran Hickey from the IFI Irish Film Archive and a Jem Cohen Retrospective (both IFI & JDIFF collaborations).

 

 

 

 

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