In the Shadow of the Machine (1928)

The film was produced as a compilation film. Blum reported in “Film-Kurier“ (5.11.1928): "It will be assembled from excerpts of partly unpublished Ukrainian films. […] Some American footage has also been used. To get material as impressive as possible, a number of films, 0-60, have been viewed." Based on ideas by Dziga Vertov, and largely assembled from the last reel of his film 'The Eleventh Year', this compilation presents an explicit critique of the very technology that Vertov sought to praise, stressing the dark side of industrialization—hands mangled in workplace accidents, train wrecks, coffins—and connects to a particularly German concern with the negative effects of technology stretching from the Romantics to Heidegger, Horkheimer, and Adorno in the twentieth century.

Director: Albrecht Viktor Blum, Léo Lania
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 22 min
Release Date:
Editing: Albrecht Viktor Blum
Production: Weltfilm
Country: Germany
Language: No Language
Original Language: de

Keywords

silent film, short film

More Films by Director: Albrecht Viktor Blum, Léo Lania
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is In the Shadow of the Machine about?
The film was produced as a compilation film. Blum reported in “Film-Kurier“ (5.11.1928): "It will be assembled from excerpts of partly unpublished Ukrainian films. […] Some American footage has also been used. To get material as impressive as possible, a number of films, 0-60, have been viewed." Based on ideas by Dziga Vertov, and largely assembled from the last reel of his film 'The Eleventh Year', this compilation presents an explicit critique of the very technology that Vertov sought to praise, stressing the dark side of industrialization—hands mangled in workplace accidents, train wrecks, coffins—and connects to a particularly German concern with the negative effects of technology stretching from the Romantics to Heidegger, Horkheimer, and Adorno in the twentieth century.
Who directed In the Shadow of the Machine?
In the Shadow of the Machine was directed by Albrecht Viktor Blum, Léo Lania.
How long is In the Shadow of the Machine?
In the Shadow of the Machine has a runtime of 22m (22 minutes).
What genre is In the Shadow of the Machine?
In the Shadow of the Machine is a Documentary film.
Where was In the Shadow of the Machine produced?
In the Shadow of the Machine was produced in Germany.