Hours for Jerome
Directed byNathaniel Dorsky
Starring
Edited byNathaniel Dorsky
Release date
1982
Running time
  • 45 minutes (Both films)
  • 21 minutes (Part 1)
  • 24 minutes (Part 2)
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent

Hours for Jerome (1980–82) is an American silent experimental film in two parts directed by Nathaniel Dorsky recording the daily events of Dorsky and his partner, artist Jerome Hiler, around Lake Owassa in New Jersey and in Manhattan.[1] The two films revolve around the four seasons with Part 1 revolving around spring through summer while part 2 revolves around fall through winter. According to Dorsky, he states that the film "is an arrangement of images, energies, and illuminations from daily life"[2] and a "silent tone poem".[3]

In 2012, Hours for Jerome was included in the annual selection of 25 motion pictures added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and recommended for preservation.[4][3][5]

Production

Filmmaker Nathaniel Dorsky

The footage for the film was shot in the late 1960s but Dorsky did not begin editing it until 1980.[6] Although the title refers to the religious Book of Hours which covers prayers for the course of a day. Nonetheless, the images are according to Scott MacDonald intended to act as prayers and "reaccess something of the sacred".[6] Like most of Dorsky's work, it is intended to be projected at silent film speeds of 17-20 frames per second, rather than the usual 24 fps of sound films.[3] The films are recorded in 16mm and run on 18 fps.[7]

According to Dorsky's blog, the film reels are not available online or digitized because it would've been reproduced and it would ruin the original experience of viewing the film in-person in theaters and the artistic aspects of the director's intention.[8] Currently, no digital copy exists.

Summary

Both films depict the seasonal aspects while including Dorsky and his romantic partner. Together, the two parts cover a year, with part one depicting spring and summer and part two fall and winter.[3]

Critical reception

Critic Matthew Flanagan chose it as one of the ten greatest films ever for the 2012 Sight & Sound poll.[9]

Scott MacDonald praised its depiction of the passing year, calling it "America's most compelling cinematic paean to temperate-zone seasonality".[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 MacDonald, Scott (2005). A Critical Cinema 5: Interviews with Independent Filmmakers. University of California Press. p. 78. ISBN 9780520939080.
  2. ↑ "Hours for Jerome / Love's Refrain". Harvard Film Archive. October 8, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "2012 National Film Registry Picks in A League of Their Own". Library of Congress. Dec 19–20, 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  4. ↑ "2012 National Film Registry: Hours for Jerome: Parts 1 and 2". CBS News. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  5. ↑ "Complete National Film Registry Listing". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  6. 1 2 MacDonald, Scott (2001). The Garden in the Machine: A Field Guide to Independent Films about Place. University of California Press. pp. 266–270. ISBN 9780520227385. hours for jerome.
  7. ↑ "Nathaniel Dorsky".
  8. ↑ "Nathaniel Dorsky explains why his 16mm films remain only on celluloid". Tumblr. March 12, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Hours for Jerome I & II". Sight & Sound. Archived from the original on 20 August 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2013.


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