Béton armé contre dame nature (1999)

Béton armé contre dame nature (1999) poster

This film illustrates a recurring theme in the work of Dominik Lange: the opposition of nature and city. The film explores various different aesthetic options. Lange begins by filming a bare tree, magnifying it and giving it the plastic seductivity of a watercolour in movement. The shots of the tree, either gently caressed by the artist's camera or exploding in a multitude of trembling and scratched forms, alternate with a series of shots of depressing new public-housing tower blocks. Lang revitalizes these buildings by clustering them together and/or blurring their contours. At a certain point, a building site appears; we see the buildings under construction, with construction workers busy at their task. Were these shots filmed later, or did the film-maker choose to show them later? It doesn't really matter; the alchemical phenomenon which mutates vegetation (nature) into the depressing uniformity of tower blocks is conveyed with sensitivity.

Director: Dominik Lange
Runtime: 5 min
Release Date:
Country: France
Original Language: fr
More Films by Director: Dominik Lange

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Béton armé contre dame nature about?
This film illustrates a recurring theme in the work of Dominik Lange: the opposition of nature and city. The film explores various different aesthetic options. Lange begins by filming a bare tree, magnifying it and giving it the plastic seductivity of a watercolour in movement. The shots of the tree, either gently caressed by the artist's camera or exploding in a multitude of trembling and scratched forms, alternate with a series of shots of depressing new public-housing tower blocks. Lang revitalizes these buildings by clustering them together and/or blurring their contours. At a certain point, a building site appears; we see the buildings under construction, with construction workers busy at their task. Were these shots filmed later, or did the film-maker choose to show them later? It doesn't really matter; the alchemical phenomenon which mutates vegetation (nature) into the depressing uniformity of tower blocks is conveyed with sensitivity.
Who directed Béton armé contre dame nature?
Béton armé contre dame nature was directed by Dominik Lange.
How long is Béton armé contre dame nature?
Béton armé contre dame nature has a runtime of 5m (5 minutes).
Where was Béton armé contre dame nature produced?
Béton armé contre dame nature was produced in France.