Auguste Lumière

A father, a mother and a baby are sitting at a table, on a patio outside. Dad is feeding Baby her lunch, while Mum is serving tea.

A photographer has his camera all set up to take a gentleman's picture. The subject checks his face in a hand mirror, and the photographer poses him. Just as the photographer is about to take the picture, the subject gets up to look at the camera more closely. The frustrated photographer soon becomes quite impatient.

This film is a kind of anthology about Vienna, from the invention of film to the present day. The aim is to break down the usual clichéd "image of Vienna" such as that found in the traditional "Vienna Film" by juxtaposing documentary footage, newly shot material and subjective sequences created by various artists. Individual, self-contained sections of the film gain new meaning within the context of historical material. Familiar sites appear estranged when edited together with historical scenes. Other scenes appear like a persiflage or satirical. The film does not incorporate any commentary whatsoever. It is a collage of diverse materials aimed at conveying a distanced image of Vienna to the viewer

Down the gangway, photographers leave the deck of a riverboat in large numbers.

A man, holding a baby up in his hands, is standing next to a fishbowl. The baby is trying, in vain, to catch a goldfish with her bare hands.

Auguste Lumière directs four workers in the demolition of an old wall at the Lumière factory. One worker is pressing the wall inwards with a jackscrew, while another is pushing it with a pick. When the wall hits the ground, a cloud of white dust whirls up. Three workers continue the demolition of the wall with picks.

A viewer can visit the whole world in a cinema or revisit historic moments. This industry was born thanks to the Lumière brothers, who synthesized research into motion reproduction at the end of the 19th century. The first public screening took place on December 28, 1895. Since then, cinema has gone from strength to strength, with the addition of sound and research into 3D cinema, for example. Louis Lumière expressed his pride in having committed this “sin of youth”.

Young people dive into the sea by jumping off a manmade wooden raft, while a small boat loaded with passengers passes by.

A quarrel between two women that a man attempts to separate.

A collection of short films made by the Lumiere brothers, a team of pioneering filmmakers in turn-of-the-century France, narrated by Bertrand Tavernier.

Inside an operating room, a surgeon performs several procedures of "modern" surgery.

Pierrot woos Columbine, who abandons Harlequin. An old witch hands Harlequin a magical flute that will make his wishes come true, whenever it is played. It is now time for Harlequin to play his tricks.

A group of people are standing along the platform of a railway station in La Ciotat, waiting for a train. One is seen coming, at some distance, and eventually stops at the platform. Doors of the railway-cars open and attendants help passengers off and on. Popular legend has it that, when this film was shown, the first-night audience fled the café in terror, fearing being run over by the "approaching" train. This legend has since been identified as promotional embellishment, though there is evidence to suggest that people were astounded at the capabilities of the Lumières' cinématographe.

A group of people are standing along the platform of a railway station in La Ciotat, waiting for a train. One is seen coming, at some distance, and eventually stops at the platform. Doors of the railway-cars open and attendants help passengers off and on. Popular legend has it that, when this film was shown, the first-night audience fled the café in terror, fearing being run over by the "approaching" train. This legend has since been identified as promotional embellishment, though there is evidence to suggest that people were astounded at the capabilities of the Lumières' cinématographe.

Several shots of the carnival in Nice, floats and parade costumes, passing along the crowded streets.

A stationary camera looks across a busy corner toward a store front marked "The Divan." The words "des fees" are beneath. A cortege of Arabs, about 20 persons in the party, walk past; the dignitaries are in front, attended by men with horns and drums. Coming in the other direction are local Swiss, who pay little attention, and a group of native-garbed Africans. The dozen or so well-dressed denizens of Geneva who are sitting on the steps of the Divan take it all in.

In a grove, a small boy and a small girl are dancing together.

Based on a real event that occurred between two deputies, in Chapultepec Park.

Several shots of the carnival in Nice, floats and parade costumes, passing along the crowded streets.

Several shots of the carnival in Nice, floats and parade costumes, passing along the crowded streets.

Several shots of the carnival in Nice, floats and parade costumes, passing along the crowded streets.

Several shots of the carnival in Nice, floats and parade costumes, passing along the crowded streets.

Several shots of the carnival in Nice, floats and parade costumes, passing along the crowded streets.

Nero, seated on a throne, has slaves summoned. Each drinks poison and dies, the second even though he can see the corpse of his predecessor.

A stationary camera looks west across Niagara Falls from the United States' side (the Niagara River rushes toward the falls from right to left). Virtually overlooking the falls and surrounded by the swift current not far from the camera is a small island where six or eight tourists watch the water, talk, and move about.

Passers-by on a street market in Marseille.

A mother takes her children for a walk, lifts her baby girl out of the buggy and gently sets her down to the ground. She then moves a few steps away and calls her name, to demonstrate that her baby can walk.

A horse-drawn carriage stops in front of a villa. The residents greet the newcomers, as the coach driver unloads baggages.

The film is a panorama shot-scene lasting just under a minute. The panorama film, as coined by Lumière, is a moving-camera shot--usually accomplished by placing the camera on a moving transport, such as a boat or train.

A royal wedding procession.

Short film by Lumière of people disembarking from a boat at the port of nice.

Short film by Lumière of people disembarking from a boat at the port of nice.

Mexicans lassoing a horse.

Turcos regiment parade.