'Ser humano': Arturo Prins' Cosmic Window

Among the extensive branches of experimental cinema, Arturo Prins' "Human Being" emerges as a cinematic flower that plays with narrative and aesthetic conventions, taking us on a contemplative journey from the heights of the French Riviera to the esoteric depths of trans-Himalayan Buddhism.

As if taking on the role of an all-seeing deity, the film adopts the silent gaze of a voyeuristic camera, capturing the everyday moments of human beings in their leisure, revelry, and existence. However, this work transcends mere observation. "Human Being" fractures the timeline and bridges spaces to configure humanity through a profound analysis of the cosmic, destiny, and the trajectory of our evolution as beings.

I had the pleasure of conversing with Arturo and shedding light on the origin of this unique amalgamation of voyeurism and Buddhism. The pandemic confined the director to Nice, and it was during this seclusion that inspiration struck. The combination of filming akin to "Rear Window" and delving into the "A Treatise on Cosmic Fire" provided him with a dual creative force. From above, with a telephoto lens, he captured people's daily lives with complex concepts. The connection between text and image becomes a subtle dance, an insinuation that reveals deeper layers of understanding.

Despite the common association of voyeurism with sexuality, Prins seeks to distance himself from this simplistic notion, exploring and appreciating the human being in all phases, from the primitive to the wise. It is a love song, a celebration of life that invites the viewer to reflect on their own existence.

Among many topics, we discussed art and its purpose in this life. For him, "art has a fundamental function... to free the human being from pain and lead them to a realm of peace and beauty." He shared a text that he finds revealing and stimulating, guiding his work as both a painter and filmmaker towards the "squaring of the solar circle." "Human Being" has allowed me to see how an author with clear ideas seamlessly adapts his thoughts to the image, a feat not easily achieved. I resonate with a phrase he shared that encapsulates it all: "Art produces that tingling sensation that can elevate intuition."

I concluded the interview with a question to know him more personally, to discover which works of art move him as a human being; a painting, a song, and a film. I believe it's important to endow artists with a soul, not just an image. What better way to dissect a person than through the art that shapes them without the need for context:

Painting: Henry Matisse - The Joy of Living

Music: Debussy - Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun

Film: David Lynch - A True Story

In summary, "Human Being" is a very special film for all lovers of the genre and for those seeking to think about cinema, if only for a day, in a different way. 

@lovacaine