Girona, the Spanish Venice
Plot
This early documentary short presents a visual tour of Girona, a historic Spanish city often referred to as the 'Venice of Spain' due to its network of rivers and canals. The film captures the city's distinctive architecture, including its famous bridges, medieval buildings, and waterfront views that earned it the Venetian comparison. Director Segundo de Chomón employs his cinematic expertise to showcase the urban landscape and daily life in Girona during the early 20th century. The documentary serves as both a travelogue and a historical record of the city's appearance before modernization significantly altered its character. Through carefully composed shots, the film highlights the unique geographical features that made Girona comparable to Venice, including its riverside promenades and water-based transportation.
Director
About the Production
The film was produced during Segundo de Chomón's period working with Pathé Frères, one of the most important film companies of the early cinema era. As a travel documentary, it was likely shot on location in Girona using portable cameras of the period, which would have been challenging given the bulky equipment of 1912. The film represents one of Chomón's ventures into non-fiction filmmaking, contrasting with his more famous fantasy and trick films.
Historical Background
The film was produced in 1912, a pivotal year in early cinema when the medium was transitioning from novelty to art form. This period saw the rise of feature-length films and the establishment of national cinema industries across Europe. Spain was experiencing a cultural renaissance known as the Silver Age, though the film industry was still in its infancy. The documentary format was gaining popularity as filmmakers and audiences recognized cinema's potential to capture and preserve reality. In Girona itself, the city was undergoing gradual modernization while maintaining its medieval character, making this film a valuable record of a transitional urban landscape. The film also reflects the growing interest in tourism and cultural exchange that characterized the pre-World War I era, when international travel was becoming more accessible to the middle class.
Why This Film Matters
As an early documentary, 'Girona, the Spanish Venice' represents an important example of cinema's role in cultural preservation and promotion. The film captures a moment in Girona's history before the significant changes of the 20th century, making it an invaluable historical document for the city. It demonstrates how early cinema served as a virtual travel experience for audiences who could not visit distant places. The film also illustrates the international nature of early cinema, with a Spanish director working for a French company to showcase a Spanish city for global audiences. Its preservation by the Academy Film Archive highlights the ongoing recognition of early cinema's cultural value and the importance of saving these fragile historical records. The documentary format pioneered in films like this would eventually evolve into modern travel programming and cultural documentaries.
Making Of
The production of 'Girona, the Spanish Venice' took place during a transitional period in Segundo de Chomón's career, as he was moving between France and Spain and working extensively with Pathé Frères. As a documentary, the film required Chomón to adapt his cinematic techniques from the controlled studio environment of his fantasy films to the unpredictable conditions of location shooting. The filming would have utilized hand-cranked cameras of the era, requiring careful planning to capture the city's features effectively. Given Chomón's reputation for technical innovation, he likely employed various camera movements and angles to showcase Girona's unique topography. The film was part of a series of travelogues and city documentaries that were popular in early cinema, serving both educational and entertainment purposes for audiences who rarely had the opportunity to travel.
Visual Style
The cinematography in 'Girona, the Spanish Venice' reflects the technical capabilities and aesthetic preferences of 1912. The film would have been shot on black and white film stock, likely using hand-cranked cameras that required careful operation to maintain consistent exposure. Chomón, known for his technical expertise, probably employed static shots typical of the period, possibly with some camera movement using tripods or dollies where feasible. The cinematography emphasizes the city's architectural features and waterways, using composition to highlight the Venetian qualities mentioned in the title. Natural lighting would have been used throughout, requiring careful planning to capture the city at optimal times of day. The film's visual style represents the transition from the theatrical compositions of early cinema to the more naturalistic approach that would become standard in documentary filmmaking.
Innovations
While 'Girona, the Spanish Venice' may not showcase the elaborate special effects for which Segundo de Chomón was famous, it demonstrates the technical challenges and achievements of location filming in 1912. The successful capture of moving water and architectural details using the cumbersome equipment of the period represents a significant technical accomplishment. The film's survival and preservation in itself is notable, given the fragile nature of early film stock. Chomón's experience with camera mechanics and film processing would have been crucial in producing usable footage under field conditions. The film also represents an early example of cinema being used for documentary purposes rather than pure entertainment or fantasy, showing the medium's expanding applications in its second decade of existence.
Music
As a silent film from 1912, 'Girona, the Spanish Venice' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its original theatrical presentations. The specific musical selections would have been at the discretion of each cinema's musical director or pianist, typically consisting of popular classical pieces, light classical music, or improvisations that matched the film's mood and pacing. For a travel documentary, the music would likely have been scenic and pleasant, possibly incorporating Spanish musical themes to reinforce the film's location. Modern screenings of the film might be accompanied by period-appropriate music or newly composed scores that reflect contemporary understanding of early cinema accompaniment. No original score or specific musical cues survive from the film's initial release period.
Memorable Scenes
- The opening shots establishing Girona's river system and bridges, showcasing why the city earned its 'Spanish Venice' nickname
- Views of the colorful houses along the Onyar river, which remain iconic features of the city today
- Scenes of daily life along the waterfront, capturing the intersection of urban activity and natural waterways
- Architectural shots of Girona's medieval buildings and cathedral, preserving the city's historic character for posterity
Did You Know?
- The film was preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2010, ensuring its survival for future generations
- Segundo de Chomón was primarily known for his fantasy and trick films, making this documentary a rare example of his non-fiction work
- The title 'Spanish Venice' refers to Girona's four rivers that flow through the city: the Ter, Onyar, Galligants, and Güell
- Girona's distinctive colorful houses along the Onyar river, which are a major tourist attraction today, are featured in the film
- The film was made during the golden age of Spanish silent cinema, before the industry was severely impacted by World War I
- Chomón was married to actress Julienne Mathieu, who often appeared in his films, though she likely did not appear in this documentary
- The film represents an early example of cinema as a tool for tourism and cultural promotion
- Girona's famous cathedral, one of the widest Gothic cathedrals in the world, is likely featured in the documentary
- The preservation by the Academy Film Archive was part of their ongoing efforts to save early Spanish cinema
- This film is among the earliest moving images of Girona, making it historically significant for the city's archival record
What Critics Said
Due to the film's age and the limited documentation of film criticism from 1912, specific contemporary reviews are not readily available. However, travel documentaries of this era were generally well-received by audiences hungry for images of distant places. Film trade publications of the period likely praised the film for its scenic beauty and technical execution. Modern film historians and archivists recognize the film's importance as an early example of Spanish documentary cinema and as a historical record of Girona. The decision to preserve it by the Academy Film Archive indicates its recognized cultural and historical significance. Contemporary scholars value the film as part of Segundo de Chomón's diverse body of work and as evidence of early documentary practices.
What Audiences Thought
Early 20th-century audiences typically received travel documentaries with enthusiasm, as these films offered glimpses of places most people would never see in person. The novelty of seeing moving images of a foreign city would have been a significant draw. Audiences of 1912 would have been particularly interested in the comparison to Venice, as many would have heard of Venice but few would have visited either city. The film's short runtime (approximately 5 minutes) made it ideal for the varied programming of early cinemas, where it could be shown alongside newsreels, comedies, and dramatic shorts. Modern audiences, particularly film historians and those interested in Spanish history and culture, appreciate the film for its documentary value and as an example of early cinema techniques.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Georges Méliès's actuality films
- Lumière brothers' early documentaries
- Pathé travelogues
This Film Influenced
- Later Spanish city documentaries
- Modern travel documentaries about Girona
- Archival footage compilations of early Spanish cinema
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Film Restoration
The film has been preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2010, ensuring its survival for future generations. This preservation effort indicates that while the film may have been at risk of deterioration or loss, it has been professionally archived and maintained. The preservation status suggests that original or early generation film elements still existed and were suitable for conservation treatment. As a preserved film, it is accessible for scholarly research and potential screenings in archival or specialized cinema contexts.