From the Notebook of...
Shot in Florence, the film draws on Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks and Paul Valéry’s essay on da Vinci’s creative process to explore parallels between Renaissance space and the moving image. Beavers employs rapid pans and tilts along the city’s facades, interspersed with glimpses of his own face, linking camera movement to the filmmaker’s investigative gaze. The work marks a turning point in his practice, foregrounding presence and perception as central to his method. (Note: The film was re-edited and re-released in 1999.)
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📋 Film Details
| Year | 1972 |
| Country | Italy, Switzerland |
| Genre | Documentary |
| Director | Robert Beavers |
| Runtime | 48 min. |
| Rating | TMDB: 6.1/10 (13 votes) |
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🎬 MovieFinder's Take
Robert Beavers constructs the film as a cinematic palimpsest, layering modern Florence over Leonardo's sketches and speculations. He relies on sharp, tactile camera movements to explore the link between the artist's gaze, architectural space, and the mechanical eye of the camera, building upon Valéry's profound philosophical reflection.
What lingers after viewing is the sensation of thought made visible, and the city transformed into a living page of a notebook. The experience is a rare meditation on the persistence of creative vision across centuries. — MovieFinder Editorial
Director: Robert Beavers
Best Watched
Watch in quiet contemplation, as a visual essay. Ideally on a large screen to appreciate the depth of the frame.
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