Film Has a Long and Storied History (the Sequel)

Read Time:2 Minute, 18 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
The Story of Film: A New Generation
–

Genre: Documentary
Year Released: 2022
Runtime: 2h 40m
Director(s): Mark Cousins
Where To Watch: In select theaters Friday, September 9, followed by a digital release on all major platforms on Tuesday, September 20. This compelling new documentary will arrive on DVD on Tuesday, October 18

What an experience; I didn’t realize that this was a “continuation” of the 2011 TV Mini-Series THE STORY OF FILM: AN ODYSSEY until I was already into the film (otherwise, I would’ve probably viewed it first.) The film was a passionate look at the past and future of what film offers. On its own, though, I don’t think I can recommend it enough to any fan of the history of cinema.

Admittedly, it’s hard to create a documentary about so many incredible films and not have it be well reviewed. Mark Cousins has a deep Irish accent; while you can understand without issue, it can also lull you into almost a hypnotic state. Again, I wish I had read up more so I could’ve screened the original 15-episode series (I will be visiting it in the future.)

In all, this is a giant clip show; however, it’s told through Cousins' thoughts on films. Not so much in a linear fashion, but almost as though he’s having a conversation with someone wanting to learn more about movies. I wished I could’ve sat there in the same room with him to ask about many of these moments. One of the most exciting aspects is that I consider myself pretty versed in at least recognizing many of the essential films in cinema history. However, Cousins made sure to put me in my place by showing how deep that rabbit hole truly goes. I promise you that you will learn a lot about film and films you’ve likely never heard of before.

As we progressed through the movie, it reminded me of a polished version of many of the documentary series I watched growing up. It’s such an exciting experience to see hundreds of years' worth of movies all sharing the same screen; the relatively long runtime flies by as you travel through these important cinematic moments.

For more reviews and my YouTube channel, please visit linktr.ee/Overlyhonestmoviereviews

Follow me on Instagram, Letterboxd, Twitter, and YouTube. Find my social media accounts on most platforms simply by searching Overly Honest Movie Reviews.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about all things movies.