AND THE KING SAID, WHAT A FANTASTIC MACHINE

“A feature documentary about the history of the camera and our present-day media culture - a humorous and thought-provoking film about the impact it has on our lives.” A meticulous dissection of image-making and a mapping of its movement through society, the directors use a mind-boggling array of archival footage to collage this sociological study by tracking the transmogrification of photographic philosophy and technology over human history. Weaving and contrasting some of the most iconic, harrowing, and viral images in our collective memory with user-generated footage that transports the viewer through time, space, and experience, the filmmakers intricately fashion an argument about how humans see ourselves that feels rigorous, learned, and current. Balancing critical examination with delightful surprises, they put their footage in cacophonous, lively, enlightening conversation. For a film concerned with the construction of images, Fantastic Machine does that very thing with smarts, humor, and great stamina.