The First Movie

The First Movie is a thoughtful, stimulating, and heart-warming documentary, released in 2009, directed and narrated by Mark Cousins, a filmmaker and noted cinema historian from Northern Ireland. Not a traditional documentary, this film does not merely present a chronological sequence of events or archival footage on a subject matter. Instead, The First Movie provides a poetic and heartfelt interpretation of cinema through the innocent and imaginative gaze of village children in northern Iraq.

Taking risks and breaking boundaries, Cousins travels to Goptapa, a small Kurdish village in Iraq, a place that was once ravaged by Saddam Hussein's poison gas attacks in the late 1980s. In this remote place with a history of trauma and devastation, Cousins introduces the magic and joy of cinema, sparking curiosity, imagination, and exhilaration among its young inhabitants.

The uniqueness of The First Movie is in its hands-on approach. Cousins organizes a film festival for the kids in the village who have never seen a movie before. He then hands out cameras to the children, encouraging them to film their everyday lives, their dreams, and their visions of their world. By doing so, Cousins effectively transforms the children from mere spectators to active contributors and participants in the experience of cinematic storytelling, making them documentary filmmakers in their own right.

With Mark Cousins as the narrator, notable appearances also include Gharib Ahmad Rauf and Mohammed Mahmud. Yet, the real stars are the children of Goptapa. Through their lens, viewers experience their wonder, their hopes, their fears, their dreams, and their storytelling prowess. They embrace the camera as an extension of their eyes, recording snippets of their lives that veer from mundane normality to touching acts of resilience.

Intertwining the children's footage with his historical and contextual narration, Cousins paints a narrative tapestry that's as enduringly charming as it is poignantly reflective. The movie does not shy away from the harsh realities of life in Iraq. Instead, it finds a unique balance of showcasing the lingering vestiges of past conflicts and hardships while highlighting the redemptive, humanizing, and transformative power of the cinematic medium.

Cousins' interaction with the children, their immediate surroundings, their families, the village elder, and even the beautiful landscape shapes the emotional core of this film. From a child's fascinating obsession with fish due to a biting experience to another's poignant account spiraling around her mother's death, each child brings forth a narrative that's unique and evocative to them.

The cinematography of The First Movie deserves special mention for its elegance and subtlety, interspersed with moments of raw realism. Chris Marker’s influence is palpably felt through Cousins' poetic lens and editing which enhances the dreamlike, contemplative quality of the film. The ambient soundtrack, consisting of local music, interplayed with silence and nature sounds, further amplifies the film’s meditative essence.

The First Movie is not just a film about films, but a celebration of the sheer power of the cinematic imagination. It explores the boundaries of cinema as a tool for enlightenment, healing, and hope. In its essence, it is a testament to the indomitable spirit of humanity that continues to sustain and create even amidst adversities.

While it is steeped in the world of cinema, The First Movie breaks free from its conventional norms, reaching further into the realm of philosophy, anthropology, and reality itself, thus making the viewing experience richer, deeper, and more enlightening. It is less about the technicalities of filming or directing and more about the art of seeing and the magic of storytelling.

With The First Movie, Mark Cousins creates a visionary cinematic experience that illuminates, not only the joy and wonder of filmmaking but also the resilient spirit of a once-devastated village rising through undimmed joy and innocent imagination. It stands out as a profound exploration of the medium of film, the magic of storytelling, and the indomitable resilience of the human soul.

In conclusion, The First Movie is a gem of a documentary that is stirring, profound, and thought-provoking. It underscores the universal healing power of cinema, even in the harshest of circumstances. It serves as a gentle reminder that no matter where we are in the world, the magic of cinema and storytelling can bring about transformation, inspiration, and a sense of shared human experience. This is truly the film's enduring and universal appeal.