According to Harun Farocki, today's photographers working in advertising are, in a way, continuing the tradition of 17th century Flemish painters in that they depict objects from everyday life – the "still life". The filmmaker illustrates this intriguing hypothesis with three documentary sequences which show the photographers at work creating a contemporary "still life": a cheese-board, beer glasses and an expensive watch.
(Production note)
Original title Stilleben Director, scriptwriter Harun Farocki Cinematographer Ingo Kratisch Editors Irina Hoppe, Rosa Mercedes, Jan Ralske Sound Ludger Blanke, Jason Lopez, Hugues Peyret Mixing Gerhard Jensen-Nelson Collaboration Jörg Becker, Dina Ciraulo, Cathérine Mariette Narrator Hanns Zischler Production Harun Farocki Filmproduktion, Berlin, Movimento Production (Christian Baute, Pierre Hanau), in coproduction with ZDF/ 3sat, RTBF-Carré Noir (Christiane Philippe), Latitudes Production (Jacques-Henri Bronckart), ORF (Dr. Heinrich Mis), in collaboration with NOS TV The Netherlands Programme Service (Cees van Ede), Planète Cable (Michel Badinter), with support from Centre National de la Cinématographie, France, documenta X (Brigitte Kramer) TV-producer Inge Classen Format 16mm, col. Length 56 min. First screening August 1997, documenta X First broadcast 07.09.1997, 3sat
All Works of this Decade:
Words and GamesThe Chief Executive OfficerThe Advertisement InfoThe Expression of HandsStill LifeThe InterviewThe Ad GuyThe AppearanceThe Theater of the RetrainingKitchen HelpersWorkers Leaving the FactoryThe Leading RoleRetrainingA Day in the Life of a ConsumerShort Films by Peter WeissBefore your Eyes VietnamView of the City