Partie de tric-trac

Plot

In this early Lumière short film, a man and woman are seated at a table engaged in a game of tric-trac, a French variant of backgammon. The couple plays their game while being observed by others in the room, creating a naturalistic scene of domestic leisure. As the game progresses, the man is caught attempting to cheat or make an illegal move, prompting him to quickly close the game board in embarrassment. The brief but telling moment captures a human interaction that feels both staged and authentic to the casual observer. The film concludes with this simple but revealing social interaction, showcasing the Lumière brothers' interest in capturing candid moments of everyday life.

Historical Background

1895 was the birth year of cinema, and 'Partie de tric-trac' was created during this revolutionary period. The film emerged just months after the Lumière brothers patented their Cinématographe device in February 1895. This was a time of tremendous technological innovation in France, with the country at the forefront of industrial and artistic development. The Belle Époque was in full swing, and the French bourgeoisie enjoyed leisure activities like parlor games, which the Lumières documented. The film was created before cinema had established its own language or conventions, making it part of the medium's foundational vocabulary. The December 28, 1895 premiere, which included this film, is widely considered the birth of commercial cinema, marking the transition from scientific curiosity to public entertainment.

Making Of

The making of 'Partie de tric-trac' exemplifies the Lumière brothers' documentary approach to early cinema. Unlike the theatrical presentations of Georges Méliès, the Lumières sought to capture authentic moments of everyday life. The film was likely shot in the Lumière family home or at the home of one of their associates in Lyon. The participants were not professional actors but family friends who were asked to play a game of tric-trac while being filmed. The 'cheating' moment was either genuinely spontaneous or lightly suggested by Louis Lumière, who often directed his subjects with minimal interference. The single static camera position was typical of early Lumière films, creating the effect of an observer peeking into a private moment. The natural lighting came from windows, as artificial lighting was not yet used in film production.

Visual Style

The cinematography of 'Partie de tric-trac' represents the foundational techniques of early cinema. Shot with a single, stationary camera positioned to capture the entire scene, the film demonstrates the observational approach that characterized Lumière productions. The composition carefully frames the players and their game board, creating a balanced image that draws attention to the central action. Natural lighting from windows illuminates the scene, creating subtle shadows that add depth to the image. The fixed perspective creates a theatrical quality, as if viewers are watching a stage performance from an optimal seat. The shallow depth of field, characteristic of early lenses, keeps the players in sharp focus while the background remains slightly soft. The black and white image quality, while primitive by modern standards, captures remarkable detail in the players' expressions and the game board itself.

Innovations

'Partie de tric-trac' showcases several technical achievements that were groundbreaking for 1895. The film was shot using the Lumière Cinématographe, a revolutionary device that combined camera, projector, and developer in one machine. The film used 35mm film with perforations, a standard that would dominate cinema for decades. The camera's hand-crank mechanism allowed for consistent frame rates of approximately 16 frames per second. The film's processing and projection demonstrated the practical viability of motion pictures as a commercial medium. The ability to capture such clear, stable images with natural movement represented a significant advancement over earlier motion picture devices. The film's preservation of fine details and naturalistic movement set a new standard for photographic realism in moving images.

Music

Silent film - no soundtrack was originally created. During early screenings, live musical accompaniment might have been provided, typically piano or small ensemble music that was often improvised or selected from existing classical pieces. The music would have been chosen to match the domestic, leisurely mood of the scene.

Memorable Scenes

• The climactic moment when the man is caught cheating and quickly closes the game board, creating one of cinema's earliest comedic beats and demonstrating the Lumières' ability to capture authentic human reactions on film.

What Critics Said

Contemporary critical reception of 'Partie de tric-trac' is difficult to trace as film criticism as we know it did not exist in 1895. However, reports from the first screening indicate that audiences were amazed by the lifelike quality of the moving images. Early commentators noted the realism and detail of the scene, with particular attention paid to the natural movements of the players. Modern film historians and critics recognize the film as an important example of early cinema's observational style. Critics have praised its unpretentious approach and its role in establishing cinema's potential for capturing authentic human behavior. The film is often cited in scholarly works about the origins of cinema and the Lumière brothers' contribution to the medium's development.

What Audiences Thought

Audiences at the 1895 premiere reportedly reacted with astonishment to 'Partie de tric-trac' and other Lumière films. The sight of moving, lifelike images was a novel experience that many found magical and almost unbelievable. Contemporary accounts suggest that viewers were particularly impressed by the natural quality of the movements and the clarity of the image. The film's domestic subject matter made it relatable to the middle-class audiences of the time, who could recognize themselves in the scene. Unlike the fantastical presentations that would later become popular, this straightforward depiction of a familiar activity helped audiences accept cinema as a medium capable of representing reality. The brief length of the film was well-suited to early audiences' attention spans and curiosity about the new technology.

You Might Also Like