Free Time

"Free Time" is an appealing and engaging documentary film, directed by the immensely talented and innovative filmmaker, Manfred Kirchheimer. Released in 2019, the film offers a meditative exploration of quotidian city life. Though reconnecting the audience with the past, the film also poses timely questions about the changing relationships between individuals, communities, and the spaces they inhabit.

At first glance, the title "Free Time" seems like an ironic commentary on our time-strapped modern lives. However, upon watching the film, the audience realizes that the title is a sincere tribute to an era when life seemed less hurried, and simple joys were easier to find. The film subverts standard perspectives by focusing on the ordinariness of everyday life in the city during the mid-20th century, evoking a poignant sense of nostalgia‐tinged urban poetry.

"Free Time" is composed of footage shot in the summer and fall of 1958 and the winter of 1959 in New York City. Shot in gorgeous black and white, the reclaimed 16mm footage covers a variety of city scenes - children playing in vacant lots, elderlies sitting on stoops, laborers toiling away at their tasks. The movie masterfully embodies Kirchheimer's signature style, which emphasizes rhythmic editing and a sensitive eye for humanistic detail. These snippets of everyday life, interspersed with beautiful shots of churches, fire escapes, laundry lines, and cascading rows of buildings, encapsulate the spirit of the city and its inhabitants.

One of the most notable aspects of "Free Time" is its lack of dialogue and narrative structure. Kirchheimer relies primarily on images and sound to weave a rich tapestry of urban life. This approach might challenge viewers accustomed to traditional storytelling methods. However, Kirchheimer's innovative use of these elements allows viewers to engage more profoundly with the film, creating an immersive sensory experience, rather than a passive viewing one.

The film's soundtrack deserves a special mention. It comprises an ambient collection of city sounds and light jazz music that enhances the viewing experience. It perfectly complements the visuals and intensifies the mood of the film, making it not only a visual gallery but also an auditive delight that plunges the viewer into the atmosphere of the past.

The cinematography in "Free Time" transports the viewer to the mid-century urban landscape, presenting an intimate look at New York and its multifaceted citizens. It captures the sweet stillness of the city at rest, the bustling activity of its public spaces, and the myriad of human interactions that breathe life into it. The imagery captured in the film is a rich mixture of textures, lights, and shadows which evokes a sense of timelessness.

Through its unique lens, "Free Time" documents New York as a living, breathing entity, pulsating with life and energy. Despite the significant temporal and physical transformations the city has undergone, its essence remains untouched - a testament to its resilience and dynamism. Watching the film feels like flipping through a vintage photograph album, where each frame resonates with lingering emotions and prompts personal introspection.

Kirchheimer, through "Free Time", poses reflective questions about the frenzied pace of contemporary life that sharply contrasts the slower, more contemplative pace of the past. It nudges viewers to pause and think about our relationships with urban spaces and how these interactions impact our understanding of community, leisure, and work.

The themes explored in "Free Time" accommodate a vast range of interpretations, making it a versatile and accessible film for a broad audience. Its muted color scheme, coupled with exquisite cinematography and resonant sound design, lends itself well to an almost dreamlike, meditative viewing experience.

In its deliberate, meticulous pacing, "Free Time" engrosses the viewer in New York's past while simultaneously encouraging them to contemplate their urban future. It provides an important reminder of the value of slow living and the richness of public spaces as a site for shared experiences. The result is a film that is simultaneously an aesthetic pleasure, a historical record, and a socially relevant commentary on urban life's changing landscape.

"Free Time" is a poignant, thought-provoking documentary film, a visual symphony that provides a unique glimpse into the city's heart – New York, as it once was, and as it continues to shape and influence the lives of those who live there. For fans of documentary filmmaking, urban history, and thoughtful commentary on social dynamics, "Free Time" is an enriching experience not to be missed.