WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — On Thursday, May 16, the Clark Art Institute screens the final entry in its film series exploring lyrical depictions of cities in films that resonate with the Paper Cities exhibition. 

 

The Clark shows the short film triple bill "À propos de Nice;" "Douro, Faina Fluvial;" and "Regen/Rain" at 6 pm in its auditorium, located in the Manton Research Center.

 

According to a press release:

 

Jean Vigo's "À propos de Nice" exposes the seedier side of life on the French Riviera, contrasting the labor of low-paid workers with the idle tourists as the city prepares for Carnival. Manoel de Oliveira's first film, "Douro, Faina Fluvial," combines a poetic portrait of the Portuguese urban poor making a living on the Douro River with rigorously geometric shots of the built environment. "Regen/Rain" was shot during one rainstorm in Amsterdam. The precise rhythm of the editing echoes the beat of the falling rain as director Joris Ivens' carefully composed images exploit the slick textures and reflections created by the water. (À propos de Nice run time: 25 minutes; Douro, Faina Fluvial run time: 21 minutes; Regen/Rain run time: 12 minutes)

 

On view in the Eugene V. Thaw Gallery for Works on Paper, located in the Manton Research Center, Paper Cities examines representations of cities in works on paper created from the late fifteenth to the early twentieth century. The exhibition asks the following questions: Which cities or sections of cities are these artists presenting? Are they emphasizing specific architectural or social elements, and if so, what motivates these choices? What roles do the cities play in advancing the narratives of the overall artworks?

 

Free. Accessible seats available.