A landmark of silent cinema, Dziga Vertov’s Man with a Movie Camera is one of the most influential films ever made. Rejecting plot, actors, and traditional storytelling, the film presents a dynamic, non-linear portrait of everyday life in Soviet cities including Moscow, Kyiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv.

Structured as a “city symphony,” the film captures the rhythms of modern urban life, from factory labor and streetcars to leisure, marriage, and birth, while also revealing the process of filmmaking itself. Cameramen, editors, and machines appear onscreen, emphasizing Vertov’s belief that the camera could perceive reality in ways the human eye could not.

Using then-revolutionary techniques such as split screens, superimposition, and rapid montage, the film remains playful, challenging, and visually exhilarating. Once controversial, it is now widely regarded as a masterpiece of the Soviet avant-garde and one of the greatest documentaries ever made.

This special screening features The Anvil Orchestra performing the film’s original score live.

Accommodations: ADA Accessible Venue

Organization: JxJ DC Jewish Film and Music

Livestream or Virtual: No, it’s not