Film & Discussion
"Videograms of a Revolution" (1992) and other extracts

Archives of revolutionary times | Series of screenings and debates "The Politics of Archival Film II: Confronting the Violence of History - A Tribute to Harun Farocki (1944-2014)"

Tue, 02/06/2024
4:00 PM Université de Montréal - Pavillon Lionel-Groulx

As part of the film and discussion cycle The Politics of Archival Film II: Confronting the Violence of History - A Tribute to Harun Farocki (1944-2014) organised by Rémy Besson (CRIalt) and Philippe Despoix (UdeM) with the collaboration of Regine Strätling (CCÉAE).

Videograms of a Revolution

Videogramme einer Revolution
Documentary
Germany | 1992 | 106 mins | 16mm
Direction, Script: Harun Farocki, Andrei Ujica

In the fall of 1989, changes of power or "revolutions" took place in several countries, of which the Romanian one provided the most compact picture and was therefore occasionally referred to as the "first televised revolution". It took place within a few days between Timisoara and Bucharest, from the first popular uprising to the overthrow of the rulers and their execution. In Bucharest, the official television station was occupied by demonstrators and remained live on air almost continuously from December 21 (Ceaucescu's last speech) to December 26 (televised summary of his trial). In his critical analysis, Farocki combines parts of the television footage and amateur video recordings. In doing so, he explores the ritualistic, dramatic character of historical images and the dynamic interrelationship between history and its representation.