Letter to D.H. in Paris

This short film exemplifies what for many aficionados is the core of underground filmmaking. David Brooks’ film is, as its title implies, simply a letter to a friend, describing his travels, encounters and acquaintances since their separation, and evoking common memories. While the outsider may miss a few of the links in the meanings, this is no more a problem than it is in much modern poetry. But the film’s cool, calm, rapid movement from one city to another has a charm of its own, evoking, more than anything else, perhaps, some of the poems of Appollinaire. Colour camera movements and editing are informal and inventive and effortlessly surpass many conscious artistic efforts which have for too long been film society fare. Above all, it is the clearest possible clue to a new dimension of cine-photography.