看《Cinema Before 1300》，我来吐个槽~

It was back in the year 2017 when I extended an invitation to Jerome Hiler, a visionary in his own right, to grace the halls of the Harvard Film Archive with his compelling discourse, titled Cinema Before 1300. The very name of this presentation, coupled with its unique subject matter, captured my imagination instantly. What ensued was a captivating exploration into the realm of medieval stained glass, a luminous art form that has, over centuries, faded into obscurity. Through Jerome's lens, we were treated to a visual feast, showcasing the resplendent beauty of these masterpieces, primarily found within the majestic walls of French and British cathedrals, bastions of a bygone era where light and color danced in harmony.

The lecture served as a poignant reflection on the significance of stained glass as a medium of both artistic expression and spiritual devotion, all while tracing its lineage to the origins of cinema. Enthralled by the experience, I proposed to Jerome the idea of metamorphosing his eloquent lecture into a digital cinematic piece, one that could reach the masses through the vast expanse of the internet. The suggestion was revisited amidst the solitude of the pandemic, and Jerome, in his graciousness, consented to enrich his narrative further. With meticulous care, he rewrote and recorded his thoughts, weaving in additional visuals and personal reflections that add layers of depth to this cinematic journey. The expanded edition of Cinema Before 1300 is now set to premiere on the Harvard Film Archive website, commencing December 14 and extending till March 15. Post this period, the film will continue to be accessible via online requests directed towards the HFA Collections team. Despite being tailored for digital screens, the grandeur of Cinema Before 1300 remains undiminished; indeed, it retains its splendor when showcased on the silver screen. In anticipation of this, the HFA has prepared a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) variant, ready for theatrical screenings upon request.

Centuries before the advent of celluloid dreams, circa the 13th century, a convergence of technological prowess, philosophical enlightenment, and economic prosperity gave rise to a groundbreaking medium of mass communication: stained glass. Across the landscapes of France, Spain, England, and Germany, towering cathedrals emerged, adorned with colossal windows that narrated tales through a harmonious blend of light, color, and form. Each day, multitudes flocked to these sacred spaces, spellbound by the vibrant hues and the narratives that unfolded beneath the play of light. For modern-day pilgrims, the myriad activities that once thrived within these walls might seem unfathomable. These edifices were, in essence, the heartbeats of their communities, where every individual played a pivotal role in their creation, thus earning the right to revel in their magnificence. This program delves into the formative decades of stained glass, chronicling its glorious inception and zenith. It was during this serendipitous epoch that the utmost dedication, craftsmanship, and resources were poured into this nascent art form. Tragically, the march of progress, which sought to standardize glass production and streamline the artisanal process, unwittingly sapped the very essence that made stained glass a sight to behold, leading to its gradual decline. – Jerome Hiler