The First Film

The First Film is a riveting narrative that explores the story of what is widely regarded to be the world's first ever moving pictures. The journey to this discovery, like any good mystery story, is just as intriguing as the result itself. Directed by David Nicholas Wilkinson, this 2015 documentary delves into the intricacies of this landmark discovery, often offering more questions than it answers, and ignites a fascinating debate on the birth of film-making.

The documentary also introduces us to three adamant and engaging individuals Bernard Atha, Stephane Cornicard, and Tom Courtenay, whose contributions help narrate and shape the trajectory of this film that ventures into the past to deconstruct the origins of cinema as an art form. Thoroughly well-researched, the film eloquently captures the joy of discovery while simultaneously unravelling stubborn questions about the creation of cinema.

Yorkshireman Louis le Prince is the main subject matter of The First Film. Based on painstaking research into the life and work of le Prince, it is postulated that he invented a single-lens camera and shot a film in Leeds, UK in 1888, notably seven years before Thomas Edison's 'invention' of the moving picture in America. These pieces of vintage film, named Roundhay Garden Scene and Leeds Bridge, were shot on paper film but just two seconds long.

The primary draw of this documentary is not only its exploration of the birth of film, but also its endeavour to recognise and rectify what is viewed as a historical oversight. This claim that a humble inventor from Yorkshire essentially fathered cinema perpetually suffers in the shadow of better-known inventors of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, notably American Thomas Edison and the French Lumière Brothers. The director's mission to right this wrong forms the crux of the narrative and lends the film a compelling sense of purpose.

It's interesting to note that Louis Le Prince vanished under mysterious circumstances just days before he was to demonstrate his invention to the public. The documentary speculates around what could have happened and why Le Prince's work didn't receive the recognition it perhaps could have, had circumstances been different. Theories abound, theories that speak of corporate sabotage and other sinister goings-on.

In the position of narrator and investigator, director David Nicholas Wilkinson takes us on a personal journey. This film is the culmination of over three decades of his dogged research into the mystery of Louis le Prince and his ground-breaking invention. Wilkinson's passion for the topic is made abundantly clear throughout, making the film both a detective style investigation and a love letter to film history.

The First Film is meticulously constructed. It vividly and eloquently mixes present-day interviews, archival pictures, and footage, as well as dramatic reconstructions. The film goes international, taking us from Leeds to Paris to New York, dealing with a number of historical, political, and even legal perspectives.

Cameo performances from actors Bernard Atha, Stephane Cornicard, and Tom Courtenay deliver entertaining and thought-provoking narratives. These engaging performances lend added but charming gravitas to Wilkinson's claims and help redefine the timeline of film history.

On the whole, The First Film is a thought-provoking and insightful documentary that calls into question our understanding of film's origins. It is an immersive exploration of the art of film-making, effortlessly blending elements of biography, history, mystery, and even conspiracy. The result is a challenging, engaging, and deeply informative documentary that should captivate not just film students, professionals, and historians but anyone who has ever been captivated by the magic of moving pictures. It highlights an essential part of film history, one that deserves attention in the ever-evolving narrative of global cinematic art and innovation.