Long takes, low-stakes, minimal camera movement, a focus on mundane life. These are the common traits seen in slow cinema. They’re the kind of film where “nothing really happens.” In recent years, slow cinema has gladly taken the limelight; Aftersun and Past Lives were both met to critical acclaim. But is slow cinema truly appreciated?
In the height of the technological age, it’s becoming a lot harder to pay attention. Especially when the majority of films released run at an average of two hours, with recent release The Brutalist running at a whopping three and a half hours (albeit with an intermission to nurture attention spans that may be dwindling). This can be difficult for film-watchers — especially those who aren’t cinephiles — to not get bored, particularly when these films aren’t always plot-driven, and when we’re so used to scrolling TikTok and receiving an instant dopamine hit from short, one minute videos. Could this be the reason why people are put off slow cinema?
Take a look at TV culture. Around the world, millions of people sit down for several hours and binge their favourite shows, often with little interruption. However, these shows are fast-paced and have episodes that end on cliffhangers, leaving the viewer begging to find out what happens next. But does film always have to be action packed in order to entertain?
One of the best elements to a slow film is its focus on mundane life — specifically, the attention to the beauty of quotidian moments. One great example of a slow film is Past Lives. Despite its lack of a strong plot, there is a certain kind of peace to be found in this film; the narrative unfolds slowly, yes, but with a resounding magnetism. It gives the viewer the time to really sit with what they’ve seen. An older film, Paris, Texas, is a road movie that hums with the same slow-paced, contemplative energy. And sometimes the slow-pacing of a narrative can work wonders for the overall effect of a film. Would The Zone of Interest carry the same potency if not for the elongated mundanity of the Hoss family, tending to the flower garden as the smoke from the crematoriums looms behind their house, without their acknowledgement? Here, the use of slow pacing creates a suffocating atmosphere that makes for a truly uncomfortable watch.
Of course, not everyone is destined to be a slow film fanatic. And that’s okay too. But equally, I’ve found there is still a possibility for this to be learned. The more frequently you watch slow films — without distractions, without skipping ahead — the more you’ll find yourself starting to enjoy the slow pace of these films, and the more you can allow yourself to reap an emotional reaction. And most importantly, the more likely you’ll be to take this mindset into real life. Life doesn’t always have to be so fast-paced. Give yourself time to slow down.
Photo by Timon Studler on Unsplash