Fog Line (1970) User Reviews

Out of the fog

[classicsoncall · 3/10 · 30 October 2017]

You've heard of watching paint dry. This is only somewhat more appealing because it involves a nature scene. You have basically an eleven minute long shot of fog clearing from a hillside, and as it does, outlines appear of the filmed landscape. It's shot through two pairs of high tension wires that serve almost as a framing device for the director. In a way, it's as if the director is asking the viewer to complete the picture in one's own mind before the fog entirely lifts. Another way to look at it is if this were a piece of film being slowly developed in a darkroom. Beyond that, there's not much else going on here that needs explanation, but what I found curious in the notes that accompanied the short, was that director Larry Gottheim shot this same scene under the same conditions at various times until he got the affect he was looking for. He must have had a lot of time on his hands.

Eleven minutes of fog.

[hrivers · 1/10 · 9 March 2006]

I forgot to mention that the summary is the spoiler.

This is easily the most useless, ridiculous piece of film ever shot. Here is a summary, in case you wanted an elaboration. Minutes 1-7: Fog. Minute 8: A shadowy, possibly horse-like figure briefly enters and exits the shot. Minutes 9-11: Fog. If there were a negative rating that I could give this film, I would choose it in an instant.

Jacqueline Stewart made me watch this movie, and for that I will always hate her. Also because of her unnatural attachment to the pretension of "mise-en-scène."

Is this ten lines yet?