Metaphor and Truth and Illusion

Two essay films directed by King Vidor. Anchored in the concept of cinema as an “illusion machine”, in Truth and Illusion: An Introduction to Metaphysics (1964), the director examines the relationship between mind and matter. The short documentary combines elements of classical philosophy, modern science, and the ideas of Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910), the founder of Christian Science. The second short documentary Metaphor: King Vidor Meets with Andrew Wyeth (1980) is a conversation between the director and the American painter. Wyeth (1917–2009) was a big fan of Vidor’s film The Big Parade (1925) in particular, and referenced moods and motifs from the film in several of his paintings. Talking to the “metaphorical realist”, Vidor discusses the significance of visual metaphors in his films. The films will be introduced by French film scholar and Vidor expert Catherine Berge, who made Journey to Galveston, a 1980 cinematic portrait of the director.

Eventroom, 4th floor | Entrance free | in English