Schwechater
Synopsis
In 1957, Peter Kubelka was hired to make a short commercial for Schwechater beer. The beer company undoubtedly thought they were commissioning a film that would help them sell their beers; Kubelka had other ideas. He shot his film with a camera that did not even have a viewer, simply pointing it in the general direction of the action. He then took many months to edit his footage, while the company fumed and demanded a finished product. Finally he submitted a film, 90 seconds long, that featured extremely rapid cutting (cutting at the limits of most viewers' perception) between images washed out almost to the point of abstraction — in black-and-white positive and negative and with red tint — of dimly visible people drinking beer and of the froth of beer seen in a fully abstract pattern.
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Peter Kubelka
- Original Title
- Schwechater
- Country of Origin
- Austria
- Spoken Languages
- No Language
- Runtime
- 2m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Peter Kubelka
Department Leadership Roster
Peter Kubelka
Director
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Schwechater.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Schwechater.
MovieLens[40K:50K]
Similar Titles to Schwechater
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
6.5
8.0
6.0
7.3
6.5
7.1
4.2
6.9
8.0
6.7
8.0
More Like Schwechater
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Schwechater
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Schwechater about?
In 1957, Peter Kubelka was hired to make a short commercial for Schwechater beer. The beer company undoubtedly thought they were commissioning a film that would help them sell their beers; Kubelka had other ideas. He shot his film with a camera that did not even have a viewer, simply pointing it in the general direction of the action. He then took many months to edit his footage, while the company fumed and demanded a finished product. Finally he submitted a film, 90 seconds long, that featured extremely rapid cutting (cutting at the limits of most viewers' perception) between images washed out almost to the point of abstraction — in black-and-white positive and negative and with red tint — of dimly visible people drinking beer and of the froth of beer seen in a fully abstract pattern.
Who directed Schwechater?
Schwechater was directed by Peter Kubelka.
Who stars in Schwechater?
The principal cast of Schwechater includes Not specified.
When was Schwechater released and how long is it?
Schwechater was released in 1958 with a total runtime of 2m.