Alger : prière du muezzin (1896) [N/A]
Directed by:
Alexandre Promio
Release Date:
December 16, 1896
Original Title:
Alger : prière du muezzin
Genres:
Documentary
Production Companies:
Lumiere
Production Countries:
France
Ratings / Certifications:
N/A
Runtime: 1
A short clip from the Lumière Brothers.
The Lumière Brothers had the foresight to see that, in addition to familiar sights of France and snapshots of everyday life, film had the ability to transport viewers to faraway lands: to see places, things, and cultures that they might otherwise not have the opportunity to be exposed to. This insight led to a series of films, produced over several years, that showcased scenes from many different countries: ranging every continent except Antarctica.The title refers to a muezzin, which is an Islamic crier who intones a call for Muslims to prayer five times a day. Traditionally, the muezzin would stand at the top of a minaret (a tower) or another high part of a mosque so that he could be heard. The muezzin in this film, who appears to be on a rooftop, repeatedly goes from a standing position to kneeling, where he kisses the ground. Bertrand Tavernier, a French filmmaker who narrates the Kino DVD The Lumière Brothers' First Films, reports that a Muslim friend of the Lumière Institute verified that the prayer in the film is made up, a fictional representation for the camera. We may never know the reason why. It is possible that the cameraman told the muezzin how to perform for the camera; it is possible the muezzin was just an actor who made it up on the spot; or it is also possible that the muezzin didn't want to profane an authentic prayer by performing it for a film audience. Whatever the reason, it is unlikely that most audiences of the time would have known the difference.
