The Box with Eight Eyes

A gentle, scholarly curiosity piece that recreates a lost spectacle of light and painted wonders, charming but quietly educational.

Directed by

Françoise Levie, Pierre Levie

Genres

Documentary, Animation, Drama

Starring

Pierre Laroche, Félix Simtaine, Alain Lecot

Overview

The 2nd short film as part of the Magica series dealing with pre-cinema. In the 18th and 19th centuries, optical views were shown in optical boxes with magnifying lenses. The showmen organised a real spectacle, with a barker, music and sound effects. The views played with light (transparencies, perforations). A series of engravings shows the public's enthusiasm for these shows. The second part of the film is a reconstruction of such a show. First, there are views of Paris, Venice, Constantinople and Versailles, followed by various disasters: plague, floods, fires and shipwrecks.

How it feels

Earnest, whimsical and melancholic. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Art, memory, media, class

Content

No violence, gore, sexual content or swearing.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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