SCHMIDTS SLOWREEL

„A completely surprising experience, linked to the perception of a real moment of life, marked by the flow of time, exceptional music and a playful use of a Coca Cola commercial. It is incredible how, with only one fixed shot, this film is able to take root in the mind of the viewer, asking endless questions and arousing so many sensations.“

Festival dei Popoli 2021 Jury (Kieron Corless, Anita Piotrowska, Luciano Barisone)

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Nicolaas Schmidt Crafts a Mesmerising and Minimalist Work of Sly Romance in Arthouse Drama ‘FIRST TIME’

„An audacious and humorous comment against the mainstream cinema and its standardized narratives, reminiscent of some of Chantal Ackerman and Straub-Huillet’s formally rigorous works. And at the same time a refreshing invitation to turn back our gaze to the world around us and discover anew the cinematic treasures hidden under the surface of our uneventful everyday life. For the courage and the freedom to take us into a risky and thought-provoking journey.”

The Jury consisting of filmmaker and artist Kamal Aljafari, producer Marie-Pierre Macia, and filmmaker, artist, curator, and Golden Bear winner Adina Pintilie.

PRESS REVIEWS / INTERVIEWS

„First Time [The Time for All but Sunset – VIOLET] verbindet Bilder auf eine ganz einfache, einleuchtende Weise miteinander, so dass sich aus ihrer Summe Fragen ergeben.“

Frédéric Jaeger, Critic.de (german)

„Ein Exkurs über das Tabu eines überbordenden Ästhetizismus, den die Kunst gern unter Kitschverdacht stellt. Und doch fühlt man sich an eine Zeit erinnert, als man noch von Experimentalfilm sprach, aber damit Abenteuerlust verband und Reisen ins Unbekannte.“

Daniel Kothenschulte, Frankfurter Rundschau (german)

„Den Zugriff auf Zeit und Ort mit jeder Minute mehr zu verlieren – auch das eine Art, den Kopf verdreht zu bekommen. Und vielleicht die schönste des Festivals.“

Hannah Pilarczyk, Spiegel Online (german)

„Schmidt zelebriert die radikale kinematografische Reduktion förmlich, First Time ist alles andere als konformistischer Kitsch: eine Erzählung gegen klassische Narrative.“

Jens Balkenborg, Lerchenfeld HFBK Hamburg (german)

„A uniquely crafted film work done with intelligence and heart.“

Marina D. Richter, ubiquarian.net (english)

„The film is proof that if you have some form of tension at the heart of a movie, you can easily stretch conventional cinematic patience. […] FIRST TIME provides an experience both emotionally and intellectually stimulating (as well as being rather funny).“

Redmond Bacon, dmovies.org (english)

„Nicolaas Schmidt Crafts a Mesmerising and Minimalist Work of Sly Romance in Arthouse Drama ‘FIRST TIME’.“

Redmond Bacon, directorsnotes.com (english)

„The very best film of this edition of Locarno.“

Le Polyester (français)

„In this minimal love story, the look out the window on the metropolis, the soundtrack of the film and two lonely teenagers are condensed into a social critique.“

Marcello Strano, Paeseroma (italiano)

„Within the film, the filmmaker cleverly and elegantly plays and mixes the musical element with a rather fashion photographic and scenographic aesthetic, all to go and tell a minimal and intimate story.“

L’Occhio Del Cineasta (italiano)