Dogme 95
The Dogme 95 movement was founded by a group of 4 dutch film makers: Lars von Trier, Thomas Vinterberg, Søren Kragh-Jacobsen, and Kristian Levring. The movement was started in 1995, and encompassed 4 films made by the founders, before eventually becoming a movement that spread to a handful of other directors and film makers. The Dogme 95 movement was built around 10 different rules, titled "the vow of chastity". These included:
-Shooting must be done on location. Props and sets must not be brought in. If a prop is necessary for the story, a location must be chosen where this prop is to be found.
-The sound must never be produced apart from the images or vice versa. Music must not be used unless it occurs where the scene is being shot.
-The camera must be handheld. Any movement or immobility attainable in the hand is permitted. The film must not take place where the camera is standing ; shooting must take place where the film takes place.
-The film must be in colour. Special lighting is not acceptable. If there is too little light for exposure the scene must be cut or a single lamp be attached to the camera.
-Optical work and filters are forbidden.
-The film must not contain superficial action – murders, weapons, etc. must not occur.
-Temporal and geographical alienation are forbidden. That is to say the film takes place here and now.
-Genre movies are not acceptable.
-The film format must be Academy 35mm.
-The director must not be credited.
These rules were brought forward because the original two film makers, Lars Von Trier and Thomas Vinterburg, believed technology and Hollywood were creatively hindering directors and film makers works. The Movement resulted in the films: The Idiots, 1998, Lars von Trier, Festen (The Celebration) 1998, Thomas Vinterberg, Mifune, 1999, Søren Kragh-Jacobsen, and The King is Alive, 2000, Kristian Levring.
-Shooting must be done on location. Props and sets must not be brought in. If a prop is necessary for the story, a location must be chosen where this prop is to be found.
-The sound must never be produced apart from the images or vice versa. Music must not be used unless it occurs where the scene is being shot.
-The camera must be handheld. Any movement or immobility attainable in the hand is permitted. The film must not take place where the camera is standing ; shooting must take place where the film takes place.
-The film must be in colour. Special lighting is not acceptable. If there is too little light for exposure the scene must be cut or a single lamp be attached to the camera.
-Optical work and filters are forbidden.
-The film must not contain superficial action – murders, weapons, etc. must not occur.
-Temporal and geographical alienation are forbidden. That is to say the film takes place here and now.
-Genre movies are not acceptable.
-The film format must be Academy 35mm.
-The director must not be credited.
These rules were brought forward because the original two film makers, Lars Von Trier and Thomas Vinterburg, believed technology and Hollywood were creatively hindering directors and film makers works. The Movement resulted in the films: The Idiots, 1998, Lars von Trier, Festen (The Celebration) 1998, Thomas Vinterberg, Mifune, 1999, Søren Kragh-Jacobsen, and The King is Alive, 2000, Kristian Levring.
I think the movement is provocative enough to make filmmakers and directors consider the compromises they make creatively in order to be more marketable, but I dont think adhering specifically to these rules is entirely necessary to make a more "pure" film. Working within limitations can create challenges to overcome and can result in a creative end result, but I dont believe that its a necessity.
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