Lumière and Company

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Lumière brothers' first films, filmmakers Sarah Moon and Philippe Poulet challenged 39 renowned international directors to each complete a 52-second film using the original Cinematographe camera under the conditions endured by the brothers. The result of the project was this film, Lumière et Compagnie. The film stock used was homemade from a slightly altered version of the Lumières' recipe. No synchronized sound was allowed and only natural lighting was permitted. An omnibus project that put an original Lumiere camera and homemade film stock into the hands of a broad cross-section of contemporary helmers--150 helmers were approached worldwide, of whom 39 were both willing and available. The ground rules were rigidly enforced: a continuous shot to be captured