The (Dis)Comforts of Home: Cross-cultural Perspectives on Domestic Energy Use
An Interdisciplinary Symposium at UCL. 13-14 Sept 2012
Screening: Philips Radio
To round off the symposium, we’ll be screening another film about lightbulbs, but one which approaches them from a very different perspective. Philips Radio was made in 1931 by the documentarist Joris Ivens, and was the first Dutch sound film. This 35 minute film shows the production of lightbulbs and other household appliances in the Philips factories. Its alternative title is Symphonie Industrielle, a title which hints at how the film delights in the noises of the factory, transforming them into a beautiful cacophony. Although the film was commissioned by the Philips factories, it was never shown within the company, as it was felt that Ivens had depicted the lives of the workers as too onerous. Many thanks to Mme Marceline Loridan-Ivens and the Fondation Européene Joris Ivens for permission to screen this film. A preview of the film can be seen on YouTube here.
How can I see the film on line?
Hi Terry. Thanks for your interest in this filmmaker. You can click on the link in the post above: ‘A preview of the film can be seen on YouTube here’. The ‘Fondation Européene Joris Ivens’, also linked from the above post, offers a wealth of online information on Ivens, and sells his films on dvd.