Soviet director Dziga Vertov's experimental film grew out of his belief, shared by his editor, Elizaveta Svilova (who was also his wife), and his cinematographer, Mikhail Kaufman (also his brother), t... read more 
DVD Release Date: May 13, 2003
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Stats: 608 reviews
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Flixster Reviews (608)
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May 14, 2012This experimental documentary is a plotless record of life in the Soviet Union, mainly important as a then avant-garde catalog of camera tricks and editing experiments (many of which were pioneered in this film but are commonplace or obsolete now). Most non-film students will fin... read more
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September 18, 2011A powerful film, showing the day, of a few, urban citys of Soviet Union. Present all the contrast of the happenings, and showing too how the born of a day have a similarity with an awaken of the woman in the screen and how start the movement in the towns. Man with a Movie Camera,... read more
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October 24, 2010A beautiful, brilliant film of life. I highly recommend seeing this movie. It's a classic.
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September 8, 2010Call me crazy, but I see nothing in this besides Communist propaganda and goofy special effects. I'm being gracious giving it as high a rating as I did, which is only out of respect to the fan base it has and the impact it's had on so many. I feel like it is an overly ambitious a... read more
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February 19, 2010Not for everyone, but a film buff's wet dream. Full of amazing visuals and editing styles that would make even James Cameron wonder why there is a need for CG in film. I highly suggest that you do not see the version with the 1996 musical soundtrack because the music is horrible ... read more
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December 6, 2009Innovative, fast paced celebration of human society. Dziga Vertov covers it all, birth, death, and just about everything in between - including the making of this film. I saw Chelovek s Kino-Apparatom with a recently added and very modern score, it played like an extende... read more
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October 2, 2009Dziga Vertov invented cinema with this one film. He knew the potential way before anyone else, even Eisenstein was a couple of years behind. The pair of them defined cinema and to be honest, few film since have matched Man with a Movie Camera as far as originality, importance and... read more
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September 12, 2009This important & highly influential film doesn't need any description, Has a few self-indulgence moments which I didn't like though
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June 15, 2008a remarkable experimental film. a documentary style day in the life of average citizens of the soviet union, intercut with scenes of the filmmaking process. edited with energy and wit and alot of interesting visual effects. no script, no sets, no actors; just everyday drama an... read more
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May 21, 2008i know this movie was innovative for its time or whatever, but that's all it is: a huge step for cinema and documentaries everywhere. but i look to movies for entertainment, not for historical value. and all this movie was to me was some nice music laid beside some footage of rus... read more
Critic Reviews
June 24, 2006
Time Out
March 25, 2006
Mordaunt Hall, New York Times
It becomes quite tedious and the hour that it lasts seems at least an hour and a half. Full Review
December 24, 2005
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
The film remains a fascinating souvenir, though its flourishes are now fairly familiar. Full Review
January 24, 2010
Dan Jardine, Cinemania
The film's energy is a key aspect of its optimism, a dawn to dusk challenge to show us a day in the life of a Soviet urban dweller Full Review
December 30, 2008
Louis Proyect, rec.arts.movies.reviews
One of the towering masterpieces of Soviet cinema. As much of a joy it is to watch, it is sad to think that the director was effectively silenced as soon as Stalin made "Socialist Realism" mandatory. Full Review
May 12, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
An odd curio that remains quaint. Full Review
November 25, 2005
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
Announced to be an experiment in creating a "truly international language of cinema" it is an early example of self referential filmmaking Full Review
April 4, 2005
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
It's one of the most amazing, beautiful, complicated and ground-breaking films ever made, and yet it doesn't seem to have ever earned the respect it deserves. Full Review
September 15, 2003
Kevin N. Laforest, Montreal Film Journal
Man with a Movie Camera is like a wordless anthem for all cinephiles, directly targeting that je ne sais quoi that makes cinema so powerful. Full Review
July 30, 2003
TV Guide's Movie Guide
It's a startlingly avant-garde cross-examination of modern life, as well as a lesson in the power of filmmaking and an autopsy of its methods. Full Review
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