Joris Ivens

It is an autobiographical fiction starring Ivens as an old man who has spent his life trying to "tame the wind and harness the sea" by capturing them on film.

It is an autobiographical fiction starring Ivens as an old man who has spent his life trying to "tame the wind and harness the sea" by capturing them on film.

It is an autobiographical fiction starring Ivens as an old man who has spent his life trying to "tame the wind and harness the sea" by capturing them on film.

In a port city, a youth plays a computer game that determines the fate of a woman (whose interracial romance is threatened by white punks) and other residents.

Three pioneers of documentary filmmaking – Joris Ivens, Henri Storck, and the man behind the camera, Jean Rouch – recall the early days of the documentary genre and speak about their creative methods and sources of inspiration. This lively discussion between the directors is shot in cinéma vérité style and spliced with footage from their older films.

Documentary about the Kazakh minority in western China in the last years of the Cultural Revolution.

Documentary about the Kazakh minority in western China in the last years of the Cultural Revolution.

A short documentary about the Uyghur minority of western China.

A César award winning documentary about a high school in Beijing where a student throws a ball in the direction of the teacher who had just asked them to stop playing. The class then meets to discuss this problem.

From 1972 until 1974, Joris Ivens and Marceline Loridan, along with a Chinese film crew, documented the last days of the Cultural Revolution, marking the end of an era. The vast amount of footage they shot was edited into 14 films of varying lengths. Focusing on ordinary people spread over a wide geographic area—many of whom were living and working in collectives—the filmmakers recorded a unique moment in history, and also captured some of the more enduring aspects of Chinese culture.

Joris Ivens and wife Marceline Loridan took their cameras into Pharmacy No. 3 in Shanghai, which in addition to dispensing drugs manages an outreach program of medical services, an extension of the pharmacy’s in-house medical care center.

From 1972 until 1974, Joris Ivens and Marceline Loridan, along with a Chinese film crew, documented the last days of the Cultural Revolution, marking the end of an era. The vast amount of footage they shot was edited into 14 films of varying lengths. Focusing on ordinary people spread over a wide geographic area—many of whom were living and working in collectives—the filmmakers recorded a unique moment in history, and also captured some of the more enduring aspects of Chinese culture.

Directed by Joris Ivens and Jean-Pierre Sergent.

Directed by Joris Ivens.

On the border of North and South Vietnam, civilians live underground and cultivate their land in the dead of night, farmers take up arms, and bombs fall like clockwork. Joris Ivens and Marceline Loridan’s record of daily life in one of the most volatile regions of a war-torn, divided country is both a hazardous piece of first-hand journalism and a shattering work in its own right, simmering with barely repressed anger.

On the border of North and South Vietnam, civilians live underground and cultivate their land in the dead of night, farmers take up arms, and bombs fall like clockwork. Joris Ivens and Marceline Loridan’s record of daily life in one of the most volatile regions of a war-torn, divided country is both a hazardous piece of first-hand journalism and a shattering work in its own right, simmering with barely repressed anger.

В семи частях каждый из режиссёров показывает своё видение войны во Вьетнаме, из национально-освободительной (до этого Вьетнам был колонией Франции) превратившейся в войну капитала США, заинтересованного в дешёвой рабочей силе и ресурсах (пусть даже формально независимого) Вьетнама, против коммунизма в лице СССР, Северного Вьетнама и Национального фронта освобождения Южного Вьетнама.

Pro-Vietnamese film created by Dutch filmmaker Joris Ivens. This black and white film begins with an introduction by Bertrand Russell, who explains the history of the run-up to the American involvement in Vietnam. The film shows scenes of Vietnamese soldiers in trenches, American helicopters, agricultural workers, and children assembling anti-aircraft shells. A narrator speaks of the American invasion as being on par with the Germans during World War II and characterizes the Vietnamese as resistance fighters. Anti-American protests are shown. Ivens is shown interviewing Ho Chi Minh. Vietnamese villagers build dams for rice paddies, make traps using bamboo spikes, and take cover during air raids. Scenes include the headquarters of the National Liberation Front, a military execution, bombings, and villagers attempting to shoot down US bomber planes.

Pro-Vietnamese film created by Dutch filmmaker Joris Ivens. This black and white film begins with an introduction by Bertrand Russell, who explains the history of the run-up to the American involvement in Vietnam. The film shows scenes of Vietnamese soldiers in trenches, American helicopters, agricultural workers, and children assembling anti-aircraft shells. A narrator speaks of the American invasion as being on par with the Germans during World War II and characterizes the Vietnamese as resistance fighters. Anti-American protests are shown. Ivens is shown interviewing Ho Chi Minh. Vietnamese villagers build dams for rice paddies, make traps using bamboo spikes, and take cover during air raids. Scenes include the headquarters of the National Liberation Front, a military execution, bombings, and villagers attempting to shoot down US bomber planes.

Dutch documentary filmmaker Joris Ivens follows the course of the famous wind as it originates in the Alps and finds its way to the Mediterranean Sea. Natural sounds and creative camera work provide a mood film showing the effect of the fury of the wind on the life of southern France.

Dutch documentary filmmaker Joris Ivens follows the course of the famous wind as it originates in the Alps and finds its way to the Mediterranean Sea. Natural sounds and creative camera work provide a mood film showing the effect of the fury of the wind on the life of southern France.

Instructional film about the (former) biggest harbour in the world, with a hybrid format. Well known Ivens themes are revisited, like The Flying Dutchman in the fiction part of the film, who returns to the modern day Rotterdam, that has recovered very well after the devastating bombardments in the second world war.

Instructional film about the (former) biggest harbour in the world, with a hybrid format. Well known Ivens themes are revisited, like The Flying Dutchman in the fiction part of the film, who returns to the modern day Rotterdam, that has recovered very well after the devastating bombardments in the second world war.

In 1962 Joris Ivens was invited to Chile for teaching and filmmaking. Together with students he made …À Valparaiso, one of his most poetic films. Contrasting the prestigious history of the seaport with the present the film sketches a portrait of the city, built on 42 hills, with its wealth and poverty, its daily life on the streets, the stairs, the rack railways and in the bars. Although the port has lost its importance, the rich past is still present in the impoverished city. The film echoes this ambiguous situation in its dialectical poetic style, interweaving the daily life reality (of 1963) with the history of the city and changing from black and white to colour, finally leaving us with hopeful perspective for the children who are playing on the stairs and hills of this beautiful town.

Documentary filmed during the shooting of “À Valparaiso” which shows the children’s reactions to the performance of a circus show. “It is the tender gaze of a poet on the smallest circus in the world and his audience of children”.

Documentary compiled from archives and accompanied by a poet's commentary, shows the sweep of modern Italian history from 1911 to 1961, centering on the conditions leading to Fascism and the post-WWII reaction to the Fascist experience.

Cuba, pueblo armado was shot by Joris Ivens in 1961 and illustrates the Cuban people's determination to defend the revolution. To make this film, Ivens and his crew followed a military brigade which consisted of volunteers.

A documentary about Italy's underground oil and metan deposits, sponsored by Italian state-owned oil company, ENI. Pictures of the state-of-the-art oil infrastructure are mixed with others of the traditional way of living of poorer Italian regions.

A documentary about Italy's underground oil and metan deposits, sponsored by Italian state-owned oil company, ENI. Pictures of the state-of-the-art oil infrastructure are mixed with others of the traditional way of living of poorer Italian regions.

Directed by Joris Ivens.

About the way of life in the East, in China, during the months before spring. An early spring.

About the way of life in the East, in China, during the months before spring. An early spring.

A poetic ode to the River Seine, Ivens' distinguished camera eye surveys its lively banks and step-stone canals with a vérité candor, a beguiling elan.

A poetic ode to the River Seine, Ivens' distinguished camera eye surveys its lively banks and step-stone canals with a vérité candor, a beguiling elan.

В 1954-1956 гг. по просьбе Всемирной демократической федерации женщин было снято пять короткометражек для художественно-документального фильма «Роза ветров», в которых были показаны истории из жизни женщин в Бразилии, Китае, Франции, Италии и Советском Союзе. В сборник вошли новеллы: «УТРО КАК ДРУГИЕ» (Um matin comme les autres, Франция, 1956, реж. Янник Беллон); «ДЖОВАННА» (Giovanna, Италия, 1956, реж. Джилло Понтекорво); «АНА» (Ana, Бразилия, 1955, реж. Алекс Виани); «ЧЭНЬ ЛИН» (Chen Ling / 陳玲, Китай, 1956, реж. У Ю-ин); «НАДЕЖДА» (СССР, 1954, реж. Сергей Герасимов и Альберто Кавальканти). Художественным руководителем проекта выступил известный голландский режиссёр-документалист Йорис Ивенс.

В 1954-1956 гг. по просьбе Всемирной демократической федерации женщин было снято пять короткометражек для художественно-документального фильма «Роза ветров», в которых были показаны истории из жизни женщин в Бразилии, Китае, Франции, Италии и Советском Союзе. В сборник вошли новеллы: «УТРО КАК ДРУГИЕ» (Um matin comme les autres, Франция, 1956, реж. Янник Беллон); «ДЖОВАННА» (Giovanna, Италия, 1956, реж. Джилло Понтекорво); «АНА» (Ana, Бразилия, 1955, реж. Алекс Виани); «ЧЭНЬ ЛИН» (Chen Ling / 陳玲, Китай, 1956, реж. У Ю-ин); «НАДЕЖДА» (СССР, 1954, реж. Сергей Герасимов и Альберто Кавальканти). Художественным руководителем проекта выступил известный голландский режиссёр-документалист Йорис Ивенс.

Образ Уленшпигеля - бродяги, плута и балагура - начал складываться в немецком и фламандском фольклоре в XIV в. Обилие анекдотов и шванков об Уленшпигеле сделало этот персонаж собирательным, подобно Ходже Насреддину. Если верить народной молве, Тиль - историческое лицо. Он якобы родился около 1300 г. в Кнайтлингене, много путешествовал по Германии, Бельгии и Нидерландам. Нидерландский кинорежиссер Йорис Ивенс совместно с Жераром Филипом снял фильм "Приключения Тиля Уленшпигеля". Роли Тиля и Ламме Гудзака исполнили соответственно Жерар Филип и Жан Карме. В XVI-м веке, когда Фландрия оккупирована испанцами, Тиль-проказник поступает на службу к Фердинанду Альваре де Толеде, герцогу Альба (в фильме герцога часто называют просто Альб) и помогает своей хитростью и проворностью организовать сопротивление захватчику...

An allegorical documentary about the workers of the world, whose common destinies and hopes for peace are symbolically united by the rivers that run through their respective lands. The film was shot on the Volga, the Mississippi, the Nile, the Yangtze, the Amazon and the Ganges and combines these images of five continents with the music of Dmitri Shostakovich and the poetry of both Bertolt Brecht and Paul Robeson.

An allegorical documentary about the workers of the world, whose common destinies and hopes for peace are symbolically united by the rivers that run through their respective lands. The film was shot on the Volga, the Mississippi, the Nile, the Yangtze, the Amazon and the Ganges and combines these images of five continents with the music of Dmitri Shostakovich and the poetry of both Bertolt Brecht and Paul Robeson.

An allegorical documentary about the workers of the world, whose common destinies and hopes for peace are symbolically united by the rivers that run through their respective lands. The film was shot on the Volga, the Mississippi, the Nile, the Yangtze, the Amazon and the Ganges and combines these images of five continents with the music of Dmitri Shostakovich and the poetry of both Bertolt Brecht and Paul Robeson.

This colour documentary reports about the 5th international peace journey which took place from 30 April to 13 May 1952 and in which 94 drivers from 16 nations took part. Twelve individual stages from Warsaw via Berlin to Prague had to be mastered. The total length was 2135 kilometres, and for the first time the Peace Journey was also held on GDR soil. The individual stages are reported with gripping film shots, short portraits of the cities and regions complete the itinerary. Exciting duels, crashes, winners, but also enthusiastic spectators and cheering workers at the roadsides show the sport from different perspectives. Intermediate cuts and reviews of the expansion and reconstruction of the cities of Warsaw, Berlin and Dresden are also part of this documentary film, as is a critical report on Bloody Sunday in Essen and the police's action against opponents of rearmament in West Germany.

Фильм о Третьем Всемирном фестивале молодежи и студентов в Берлине. В него вошли съемки около ста кинооператоров. Третий Фестиваль был проведен в период растущей международной напряженности между СССР и западными державами; это произошло на фоне корейской войны и распространения коммунизма в Центральной Европе и Китае. Фестиваль был призван показать молодежь германской Демократической Республики, образованной в Советском секторе послевоенной Германии. Девиз фестиваля был: за мир и дружбу – против ядерного оружия. По словам Яна Мюрдаля, люди с Запада, желавшие посетить фестиваль, задерживались западногерманской полицией и американскими военными. По некоторым из тех, кто пытался пересечь границу, стреляли.

This film describes the Second World Congress of Peace Defenders, held in Warsaw on November 16-22, 1950. Sheffield, an industrial city in England, was the initial location of the event, however, it was transferred to the capital of Poland at the very last moment.

This film describes the Second World Congress of Peace Defenders, held in Warsaw on November 16-22, 1950. Sheffield, an industrial city in England, was the initial location of the event, however, it was transferred to the capital of Poland at the very last moment.

Two weeks after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in August 1945, Indonesian Independence leaders proclaimed “Indonesia Merdeka!” ‘Freedom for Indonesia’ and an end to Dutch colonial rule over the Netherlands East Indies. Internationally renowned Dutch filmmaker Joris Ivens, in Australia as Film Commissioner for the Netherlands East Indies government in exile, resigned his position in protest against Dutch policy, which sought to re-impose its colonial rule. In collaboration with Indonesian activists, Chinese, Indian and Australian trade unionists, and local artists and filmmakers, Ivens made Indonesia Calling, a film documenting the crucial role of Australian trade union support in the establishment of the new Republic of Indonesia. Ivens’ film was an activist documentary; it actively contributed to the events it depicted. All those who worked on it became ‘adversely known’ to the security services.

Two weeks after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in August 1945, Indonesian Independence leaders proclaimed “Indonesia Merdeka!” ‘Freedom for Indonesia’ and an end to Dutch colonial rule over the Netherlands East Indies. Internationally renowned Dutch filmmaker Joris Ivens, in Australia as Film Commissioner for the Netherlands East Indies government in exile, resigned his position in protest against Dutch policy, which sought to re-impose its colonial rule. In collaboration with Indonesian activists, Chinese, Indian and Australian trade unionists, and local artists and filmmakers, Ivens made Indonesia Calling, a film documenting the crucial role of Australian trade union support in the establishment of the new Republic of Indonesia. Ivens’ film was an activist documentary; it actively contributed to the events it depicted. All those who worked on it became ‘adversely known’ to the security services.

Two weeks after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in August 1945, Indonesian Independence leaders proclaimed “Indonesia Merdeka!” ‘Freedom for Indonesia’ and an end to Dutch colonial rule over the Netherlands East Indies. Internationally renowned Dutch filmmaker Joris Ivens, in Australia as Film Commissioner for the Netherlands East Indies government in exile, resigned his position in protest against Dutch policy, which sought to re-impose its colonial rule. In collaboration with Indonesian activists, Chinese, Indian and Australian trade unionists, and local artists and filmmakers, Ivens made Indonesia Calling, a film documenting the crucial role of Australian trade union support in the establishment of the new Republic of Indonesia. Ivens’ film was an activist documentary; it actively contributed to the events it depicted. All those who worked on it became ‘adversely known’ to the security services.

Frank Capra-directed propaganda film produced during World War II depicting the United States' new enemy: Japan.

This short documentary examines the role of convoy ships during World War II, focusing on the Corvette Port Arthur. The corvette, a highly mobile weapon of destruction, is used to combat German U-boats and escort convoys through the Atlantic Ocean. Following the corvette through an encounter with an enemy submarine, the film offers a glimpse into a day in the life of the Royal Canadian Navy.

This World War II film highlights the role of Canadian corvettes on convoy duty in the North Atlantic. Battle scenes show a crew sighting a German submarine and sinking it. Other scenes show training on the high seas.

Using footage taken by Soviet battlefront cameramen, this penetrating documentary about Russian life during World War II is narrated by Walter Huston and features the likes of Joseph Stalin and Marshal Timoshenko.

A documentary showing the struggle to bring electricity to rural areas of the United States.

A documentary showing the struggle to bring electricity to rural areas of the United States.

The 400 million people of China are heirs to a great civilization, as their pagodas and stone lions can attest. But they are under attack from the Japanese. Civilian refugees walk, stumble, crawl to escape the destruction of their cities... While in the China of tradition, water buffalo still work the paddies and camels cross the desert, modern China is now a republic founded by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, with modern schools, heavy industry, large engineering projects... The government of Chiang Kai-shek resists the Japanese invasion from the coast. Madame Chiang receives a cheque from the U.S.A. for war relief. War production continues in distant villages safe from the grasp of the Japanese. With modern weapons the Chinese are pursuing their struggle behind enemy lines. And still their opponent persists in his reprisal bombings of civilian targets. "Will these people win?"

The 400 million people of China are heirs to a great civilization, as their pagodas and stone lions can attest. But they are under attack from the Japanese. Civilian refugees walk, stumble, crawl to escape the destruction of their cities... While in the China of tradition, water buffalo still work the paddies and camels cross the desert, modern China is now a republic founded by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, with modern schools, heavy industry, large engineering projects... The government of Chiang Kai-shek resists the Japanese invasion from the coast. Madame Chiang receives a cheque from the U.S.A. for war relief. War production continues in distant villages safe from the grasp of the Japanese. With modern weapons the Chinese are pursuing their struggle behind enemy lines. And still their opponent persists in his reprisal bombings of civilian targets. "Will these people win?"

A propaganda film made during the Spanish Civil War in support of the Republican government against the rebellion by Gen. Francisco Franco's forces who were backed by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The film would have been seen by those making it as a documentary.

A propaganda film made during the Spanish Civil War in support of the Republican government against the rebellion by Gen. Francisco Franco's forces who were backed by Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The film would have been seen by those making it as a documentary.

Начало 1933-го года. В маленьком немецком городе убит рабочий Ганс Лемке, узнавший о секретном военном производстве на местной парфюмерной фабрике. Его брат, Фриц, мечтавший о футбольной карьере, оставляет свои планы ради того, чтобы вывести убийц Ганса на чистую воду. От одного из местных проходимцев по имени Отто Фрицу с друзьями удаётся узнать, что боевики СА собираются устроить поджог фабрики, чтобы скрыть следы преступления. Но это оказывается провокацией. Теперь сам Фриц становится подозреваемым в этом преступлении. Процесс по делу о поджоге парфюмерной фабрики начинается параллельно с процессом о поджоге рейхстага. Пример неукротимого борца с фашизмом Георгия Димитрова становится для Фрица Лемке образцом для подражания...

Documentary about a miner's strike in Borinage.

Documentary about a miner's strike in Borinage.

Documentary about a miner's strike in Borinage.

The film is a documentary portraying a struggle as man tries to subdue nature. To prevent flooding and for purposes of land reclamation, the people of the Netherlands struggle and succeed in building a breaker, thereby eliminating the wild inland body of water once known as the Zuider Zee (now called Ijsselmeer).

The film is a documentary portraying a struggle as man tries to subdue nature. To prevent flooding and for purposes of land reclamation, the people of the Netherlands struggle and succeed in building a breaker, thereby eliminating the wild inland body of water once known as the Zuider Zee (now called Ijsselmeer).

The film is a documentary portraying a struggle as man tries to subdue nature. To prevent flooding and for purposes of land reclamation, the people of the Netherlands struggle and succeed in building a breaker, thereby eliminating the wild inland body of water once known as the Zuider Zee (now called Ijsselmeer).

The film is a documentary portraying a struggle as man tries to subdue nature. To prevent flooding and for purposes of land reclamation, the people of the Netherlands struggle and succeed in building a breaker, thereby eliminating the wild inland body of water once known as the Zuider Zee (now called Ijsselmeer).

The building of blast furnaces Magnitogorsk and the Kubas Basin by Komsomol, the Communist Union of youth, as part of Stalin’s first five-year plan.

The building of blast furnaces Magnitogorsk and the Kubas Basin by Komsomol, the Communist Union of youth, as part of Stalin’s first five-year plan.

An industrial film which shows the operations inside the Philips Radio plant: In a mêlée of activity, glassblowers make delicate glass bulbs. Machinery assists the bulb manufacture. A virtuoso glassblower begins a more complex tube used in radio broadcasting; it is then turned, fired, and sculpted. Conveyors carry partially completed units. Workers perform their various specific assembly-line tasks. Cases are manufactured and machined, wire harnesses are assembled, loudspeakers are produced. As radios near completion, they are run through a series of tests. Engineers and draughtsmen define future developments. In a closing stop-motion sequence, in a style reminiscent of Norman McLaren, a group of loudspeakers performs a playful dance. The film overall is a poetic depiction of an industrial process.

An industrial film which shows the operations inside the Philips Radio plant: In a mêlée of activity, glassblowers make delicate glass bulbs. Machinery assists the bulb manufacture. A virtuoso glassblower begins a more complex tube used in radio broadcasting; it is then turned, fired, and sculpted. Conveyors carry partially completed units. Workers perform their various specific assembly-line tasks. Cases are manufactured and machined, wire harnesses are assembled, loudspeakers are produced. As radios near completion, they are run through a series of tests. Engineers and draughtsmen define future developments. In a closing stop-motion sequence, in a style reminiscent of Norman McLaren, a group of loudspeakers performs a playful dance. The film overall is a poetic depiction of an industrial process.

A commissioned documentary short showing the effort over several years to close off a shallow bay in the northwest Netherlands from the rest of the North Sea by engineering a dyke,with an area later turned into land after drainage.

A commissioned documentary short showing the effort over several years to close off a shallow bay in the northwest Netherlands from the rest of the North Sea by engineering a dyke,with an area later turned into land after drainage.

A commissioned documentary short showing the effort over several years to close off a shallow bay in the northwest Netherlands from the rest of the North Sea by engineering a dyke,with an area later turned into land after drainage.

A lyrical portrait of Amsterdam and its changing appearance during a rain-shower.

A lyrical portrait of Amsterdam and its changing appearance during a rain-shower.

A lyrical portrait of Amsterdam and its changing appearance during a rain-shower.

A lyrical portrait of Amsterdam and its changing appearance during a rain-shower.

A film by Joris Ivens and Mannus Franken.

The Hefbrug may not be a remarkably beautiful bridge, but through a mix of close-ups, long shots, bird’s eye views and low angles, Joris Ivens conveys a sense of the bridge’s structure, its intricate mechanisms and ways of operating, the way it fits into the overall transport infrastructure and therefore the immense importance of this bridge for the whole city of Rotterdam.

The Hefbrug may not be a remarkably beautiful bridge, but through a mix of close-ups, long shots, bird’s eye views and low angles, Joris Ivens conveys a sense of the bridge’s structure, its intricate mechanisms and ways of operating, the way it fits into the overall transport infrastructure and therefore the immense importance of this bridge for the whole city of Rotterdam.

The Hefbrug may not be a remarkably beautiful bridge, but through a mix of close-ups, long shots, bird’s eye views and low angles, Joris Ivens conveys a sense of the bridge’s structure, its intricate mechanisms and ways of operating, the way it fits into the overall transport infrastructure and therefore the immense importance of this bridge for the whole city of Rotterdam.

A study of traffic movement in Paris.

A study of traffic movement in Paris.

A study of traffic movement in Paris.

At the age of 13 Joris Ivens was fond of Cowboys and Indians stories, so he decided to invent one himself. He made a script and used a camera from his father's shop. This became his first film, Wigwam, with his own family as cast. Black Eagle, a bad Indian, kidnaps the daughter of a farmer's family. Flaming Arrow, played by the young director, saves the child from the kidnapper and brings her back to her family. No better conclusion than smoking a peace pipe.

At the age of 13 Joris Ivens was fond of Cowboys and Indians stories, so he decided to invent one himself. He made a script and used a camera from his father's shop. This became his first film, Wigwam, with his own family as cast. Black Eagle, a bad Indian, kidnaps the daughter of a farmer's family. Flaming Arrow, played by the young director, saves the child from the kidnapper and brings her back to her family. No better conclusion than smoking a peace pipe.