np/formalism 
YouTube URL formalism bookmarklet Name / label / descriptive title

Oskar Fischinger (1935). 'Komposition in Blau' (excerpt)

Related: Kleerup / Robyn (2007). 'With Every Heartbeat' https://www.youtube.com/embed/-ojHWQrm4UM?start=27

Oskar Fischinger (1938). 'An Optical Poem'

Oerd van Cuijlenborg (1999). 'Jazzimation'

About: "Animator Oerd van Cuijlenborg drew his debut film Jazzimation directly on the computer. This abstract film was realised in the NIAf studio. In 1999, Jazzimination was nominated for a Golden Calf." https://www.filmfestival.nl/en/film/jazzimation
Discussion: The short borrows from a number of visual art traditions, which through its primary focus on 'colour field' [Wikipedia] https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/c/colour-field-painting can be seen to be an example of 'formalist' [Wikipedia] https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/f/formalism 'abstraction' [Wikipedia] https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/a/abstract-art
Bibliography: Oerd van Cuijlenborg (1999). 'Jazzimation'. [imdb] National Film Board of Canada. https://collection.nfb.ca/film/jazzimation

Sergio Reis, CDK Company (28 February 2024). "Somebody That I Used To Know"

Consider: The piece cleverly integrates the arrangement of bodies in space (choreography) with the selection and framing of content across time (editing and cinematography). Importantly, the choice of framing is sympathetic to the content - seemingly designed with the intention of drawing out and extending ideas, which are already present in the performance. In this sense, the approach contrasts that, which is characteristic of formulaic approaches to factual production (exemplified by so-called 'B-roll/coverage') - where subjects are treated as a coherent whole/thing which have become available (through the mere technical process of filming) to be 'documented' (seemingly in neutral fashion). In this sense, Reis' interpretation contrasts with such formulaic stratagems, which necessarily fail to recognise the opportunity of creating considered interpretations seeking to advance and extend thoughtfully considered ideas.
Context: Gotye (featuring Kimbra) (5 July 2011). "Somebody That I Used To Know" https://www.youtube.com/embed/8UVNT4wvIGY
Consider (Simon): the above in relation to the following sequence from my 1990 student documentary short: 'Horseplay' where the distinction between direct-to-camera interviews, incidental sounds, voice-over commentary and illustrative content become blurred through the choreography of action and cinematography (exemplified through the use of overt camera + subject movement combined with shallow depth of field photography): https://www.youtube.com/embed/VPRFarPmJes?start=41&end=87
Biography: Sergio Reis [channel] "is a Brazilian/Dutch choreographer and creative director whose dynamic, emotionally driven movement has made him one of today's most sought-after voices in contemporary pop and fashion. Based in the Netherlands, his work blends sharp musicality with bold visual storytelling, earning recognition on the global stage." https://www.cleartalentgroup.com/client/sergio-reis
About: CDK Company are "A group of individual creatives who came together to share their work and passion for dance. Mainly focused on leading the next generation of dancers in the Netherlands" https://cdk-company.com/company/

Hans Richter (1923). 'Rhythmus 23'

Len Lye (1958). 'Free Radicals'

Bibliography: 'Free radicals', 1958, revised 1979 by Len Lye. (2016). NSW Gov. [Government] Len Lye’s Life | Govett-Brewster Art Gallery | Len Lye Centre. (2014). Govettbrewster.com. https://govettbrewster.com/explore-art/len-lye/len-lyes-life Free Radicals. (n.d.). LUX. Retrieved March 5, 2026, from https://lux.org.uk/work/free-radicals1/ The Len Lye Foundation - Free Radicals, 1958 (revised 1979). (n.d.). Retrieved March 5, 2026, from https://www.lenlyefoundation.com/films/free-radicals/33/

Title sequence for the Brazilian TV miniseries 'Capitu' (2008)

About: "In 2008, Lobo [Instagram] was commissioned to create the opening sequence and interstitials for 'Capitu', [Wikipedia] a TV mini-series adaptation of 'Dom Casmurro', the masterpiece by 19th Century Brazilian novelist Machado de Assis. The story is narrated by the title character, an ageing man who decides to write his memoirs in an attempt to tie the two ends of life together. But the true purpose of his endeavour is to search for proof justifying his undying obsession: that his childhood sweetheart, Capitu, whom he finally succeeded in marrying, had betrayed him with his best friend, the real father of their only son. Lobo sought to encapsulate these issues in the opening sequence, not just through the choice of imagery but also in a way that involved the animation technique itself. The preliminary research started with the early 20th Century art movement Dada, following a suggestion by the series director Luiz Fernando Carvalho" (2025).
More: High quality Vimeo version [video clip]
More: 'making of' clip [video clip]
Note: Seemingly, the credit sequence was created by Carlos Bêla of the design studio @LOBOcx [Instagram]
More: find other examples, which use the reverse-collage techniques known as 'decollage' https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=decollage
Bibliography: Darmono, L. (2009, February). 'Capitu Titles'. Motionographer®. https://motionographer.com/2009/02/01/capitu-titles-2/ Capitu TV Title Sequence. (2025). D&AD. [digital archives]

Yale University, Anoka Faruqee | Colour in Context: Revisiting Josef Albers

Pierre Hébert (1968) 'Around Perception'

'Conversations with Paul Rand'

Transcript: "in other words the abstract aspect of a picture is its form as against the concrete which is the content in other words without content there's no form and without form there's no content there's nothing the work of art is realised when form and content are indistinguishable when they are in synthesis in other words when they fuse when form predominates meaning is blunted you know in form overtakes and you it's like these trendy things that are going on you don't know what's going on but when content predominates interest lags the Norman Rockwell [Wikipedia] it's just nothing but content and the form is rather boring..." https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ZzVyL_OpSI?start=106&end=173
More: Paul Rand's explanation of the relationship between 'form and content' (the logic of 'formalism') [see]

Paul Rand's explanation of the relationship between 'form and content' (the logic of 'formalism')

Arnold Glassman, Todd McCarthy, Stuart Samuels (1992). 'Visions of Light'

Michael Gordon (1959). 'Pillow Talk' (the split-screen bathtub scene)

Paolo Sorrentino (2013). 'La grande bellezza [The Great Beauty]' (remembering first love)

Jean-Luc Godard (1965). 'Alphaville'

John Boulting (1947). 'Brighton Rock' (kiosk + ending 'blind faith' scene)

Jacques Tati (1967). 'Playtime'

Film: Jacques Tati (1967). 'Playtime' [imdb]
Scene: 'merry-go-round' of cars on roundabout https://www.youtube.com/embed/OFm08iB4ng0?start=7128

Christopher Nolan (2014). 'Interstellar' (tidal wave scene)

Wim Wenders (1987). 'Der Himmel über Berlin [Wings of Desire]'

Bernardo Bertolucci (1970). 'Il conformista [The Conformist]'

Michelangelo Antonioni (1966). 'Blow-Up'

Hiroshi Teshigahara (1964). 'Woman in the Dunes'

Film: Hiroshi Teshigahara (1964). 'Suna no Onna [Woman of the Dunes]' [imdb] [Wikipedia]

Sergio Leone (1968). 'Once Upon A Time in the West' (flashback scene)

Majestic Micro Movies: 'champ-contrechamp' (shot-reverse-shot)

Production: Majestic Micro Movies [channel] Lloyd Fonvielle, James Lester, Kendra Elliot, Joe Griffin and Jae Song. [folksonomy] [video clip]

Majestic Micro Movies: 'Tracking Shot'

Production: Majestic Micro Movies [channel] Lloyd Fonvielle, James Lester, Kendra Elliot, Joe Griffin and Jae Song. [folksonomy] [video clip]

Majestic Micro Movies: 'Deep Focus'

Production: Majestic Micro Movies [channel] Lloyd Fonvielle, James Lester, Kendra Elliot, Joe Griffin and Jae Song. [folksonomy] [video clip]

Majestic Micro Movies: 'Shallow Focus'

Production: Majestic Micro Movies [channel] Lloyd Fonvielle, James Lester, Kendra Elliot, Joe Griffin and Jae Song. [folksonomy] [video clip]

Tim Hamilton (2001). 'Truth In Advertising'

Orson Welles (1941). 'Citizen Kane' (stacking-the-frame)

Pedro Almodóvar (2002). 'Hable Con Ella [Talk to Her]' excerpt

About: A scene from the Pedro Almodóvar [Wikipedia] feature 'Hable Con Ella [Talk to Her]' [imdb]
More: The scene centres on the Brazilian singer-songwriter Caetano Veloso [Wikipedia] singing the song 'Cucurrucucú paloma' [Wikipedia]

Pedro Almodóvar (2016). 'Julieta' trailer

About: The trailer for for the Pedro Almodóvar [Wikipedia] 2016 feature 'Julieta' [imdb]
Scene: https://www.youtube.com/embed/hHAyat1m4F4

Stuart Rosenberg (1967). 'Cool Hand Luke' opening parking meter scene

Film: Stuart Rosenberg (1967). 'Cool Hand Luke' https://www.youtube.com/embed/FxWKSglO0fo?start=9&end=28

'Finding Ola' TV Series (2022) 'breaking the forth wall'