Filmoteka Muzeum

An Area is a dark and manipulative representation of an urban location and the activities of its inhabitants. The accompanying sound composition is an experimental assemblage of environmental, mechanical and vocal sounds that heighten the mystique of An Area's conjoined narrative elements. An awareness of a point of view is heightened by the camera lens, which rapidly changes direction, pausing only to focus momentarily on images crafted like living photographs.

Trained first and foremost as a photographer, Bendkowski works with the moving image to exploit how the viewer’s perception can be influenced through sound and image manipulation. Bendkowski writes: „…the possibilities of the dynamics of the film image and sound have been tested with the use of the following elements: the actor’s account; the changes of focus with a constant recording of space; multiple copying of some recorded spaces; the insertion of static elements into images of high dynamics; the increase of contrast; a fragmentary record of space; the identification of an object and a human being; a fragmentary composition of human body parts; the dynamic editing of all relations”.

Quoted from: The Workshop of the Film Form 1970-1977, exhibition catalogue, Electronic Arts Intermix, New York 2004.