A Look at Editing Through the Eyes of the Uninitiated
DIRECTED BY CHAD FREIDRICHS/2024
I once heard someone say that film is meant to mirror our dreams, reflecting the way we experience them. The Cinema Within takes a slightly different approach—it suggests that film mirrors how we naturally perceive the world, where cuts and edits are akin to our blinks, and the way we scan a room resembles how shots might jump around a space in cinema.
I’ve always leaned toward the idea that fewer cuts are better; I believe it was Godard who said, “Every edit is a lie,” a sentiment I’ve always resonated with. Longer takes, besides being more technically challenging, hold a certain allure for filmmakers and true lovers of cinema. When we see an uninterrupted shot, there’s a deeper appreciation for the moment—it feels more genuine. But this documentary challenges that perspective, arguing that skillful edits can actually reflect how we naturally view the world, creating a rhythm of cuts that mimic our blinks. It even uses the great John Huston to argue against a pan in expense of a cut when going from one character to a next. “The idea that we slowly move our heads over to the next person isn’t true. We much more likely blink for a second and then open our eyes on the next person.”
At times, the film ventures into what some might dismiss as “Film School 101” ideas on editing. For instance, it discusses how a character’s gaze prompts a cut to show what they’re looking at—something familiar to anyone who loves film. But the documentary truly becomes fascinating when it ventures into remote Turkey, introducing cinema to people who have never seen a film before. This experiment explores whether our understanding of film language is innate or learned.
Interestingly, their reactions throw a wrench into the documentary’s thesis that editing mirrors human sight. Rather than ignoring this, the filmmakers delve further, examining why the experiment didn’t go as expected. This willingness to question their own assumptions adds depth to the film.
In the end, whether you’re someone who values a perfectly edited scene or, like me, prefers minimal cuts, The Cinema Within is a thought-provoking documentary. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in the artistry behind the moving image.