Experimental Film

Experimental film is a rather difficult area of cinema to define. These, however, are its general characteristics:
Experimental films are deliberately nonconformist and usually independent of the commercial elements of film-making. Usually instead of a  story in a conventional sense, sentiment, mood, or viewpoint are used to construct meaning.
Some examples:

Ballet Mécanique (1923–24):

Ballet Mécanique is one of the earliest examples of abstract film. It forms a critique of the industrial revolution and how it is turning humans into mechanical entities. It starts with a stylized caricature of satirist Charlie Chaplain and is split into parts, each drawing visual comparisons between machinery and soulless human labor.

The Dante Quartet (1987):

The Dante Quartet evokes mood and questioning through a rapid succession of vibrant images. These images were created through painting directly onto film stock – used and unused. Occasionally, you can see the images of the already used stock.
La jetée (1962)

“La jetée” by Chris Marker from minneapolis on Vimeo.

Both an experimental and narrative film,  La jetée is composed entirely of still images. The effect of this is a greater emphasis on the sound design and voice over. Other than this voice over, the only other human sounds are whispers. It is through this enhanced auditory experience; that diegetic elements are brought up from the field and into the ground and figure.

Cover image by Michael Firus