Shot 1 00:00 to 02:00
The camera from
a moving train captures the water outside, the water body over which the train
is running. This shot taken from the train opens the film. Then as the train
comes on land, we see the railway tracks, the bridge at a distance and then the
cityscape. Starting with jerky movements, the camera now becomes more stable. We
see a wall which completely blocks our view and the visual matches with the
narrative voice running in the background which says “when I am completely
unable to foresee their arrival”. The train then stops abruptly at a place, and
we cannot see clearly as to where it is.
Shot 2 02:00 to 02:11
We see
somebody’s house; an old man walks in, familiar homely environment. The old man
walks up to the cupboard and hangs a coat in.
Shot 3 02:11 to 02:34
Then we see a
clipping of a TV programme, where a woman with a bob cut is just about to
introduce a very great philosopher, but before she can tell us the name the
shot ends.
Shot 4 02:34 to 03:00
We are back to
the house; the old man is shown closing the cupboard and wearing a coat. He
then leaves the room after apologizing for not even saying hello.
Shot 5 03:00 to 03:16
A BBC clipping
(the watermark tells us) where a voice introduces us to the great philosopher,
as a black and white photograph of the old man is shown on the screen, and
finally the name is revealed ‘Derrida’.
Shot 603:16
to 03:37
We are back at
the house, which we now know belongs to the great philosopher Derrida. We see
the old man coming into the house; he talks a bit and then picks his car keys
and goes out.
Shot 7 03:37 to 03:55
An old recording
of an interview, where we again see only the introduction by the host of her
guest - Derrida. The intermingling of shots that portray his image as a ‘great’
philosopher of his times are cleverly interspersed with his casual shots at
home. The opening gives you both the images – how people perceive him and how
he is in his normal surroundings, most importantly at home.
Shot 8 03:55 to 04:00
Right outside
Derrida’s house, he gets into his car.
Shot 9 04:00 to 05:00
Outside scene, shots
from the window of the car presumably. Shows us the route he takes, what all he
is passing by. It is very similar to the opening shot, but from a longer angle
this time as its shot from a car on road and not a train. Then the car goes in
an underpass and it gets dark. Screen blacks out completely and we see ‘de’
written in white on the screen. Then ‘rrida’ appears right next to it in white,
and simultaneously ‘de’ changes to grey in colour. Sound of ambulance comes and
screen becomes grayish-white.
Shot 10 05:00
to 06:00
Screen is grayish-white;
the camera zooms out to a pavement on top of which five people are walking. As
they come close to the camera, we see one of them is Derrida. He is lighting a
pipe. Once he reaches the camera, the cameraperson follows him while he crosses
the road with his friends.
Shot 11 06:00 to 06:07
A lane where Derrida
and three of his friends are walking with him and the camera person is moving
with them (ahead of them).
Shot 12 06:07
to 06:22
Inside a
building, Derrida is talking facing the camera as he waits for the lift with
his friends. The lift door opens and he walks in still talking and the camera
follows.
Shot 13 06:22
to 06:31
Derrida trying
to talk and listen to a person right next to him. He is in focus, whereas two
men in the foreground who frame him are out of focus. There backs are towards
the camera.
Shot 14 06:31
to 07:42
Side profile of
Derrida talking on the mic at the New York University (NYU) lecture. Cut to a
person clicking his photograph (the press/ media) – Fraction of seconds. And
then back to him. He is talking about Heidegger’s philosophy
and his thoughts on biography.
Shot 15 07:42
to 08:17
Camera moving
swiftly into a room and then following a lady in the alley walk down the steps
and enter another room. Here we see Derrida, who goes to his cupboard and the
lady follows him. Camera shows both of them; he shows her a coat and wears it
on being asked.
Shot 16 08:17 to 09:06
Derrida speaking
at the NYU lecture, shot from the front. He fills up the screen appropriately.
He is talking about Heidegger’s philosophy.
Shot 17 09:06
to 11:00
Side
shot of Derrida smoking his pipe as he walks past shops on a street. The camera-person is walking with him, coordinating footsteps. Once very briefly Derrida
looks into the camera and then looks up and then continues looking ahead
normally again – walking all this while, not stopping. The background voice
gives us a glimpse into his pasts – childhood and growing up years, interesting
facts. This is a very long and continuous shot, just like the opening of the
film. He keeps walking and so does the camera-person beside him. Parked cars,
telephone booth and people – they all come between them, but the shot goes on.
Derrida looks towards the camera once again but as before looks away and keeps
on walking. They close in on the face and end the shot.
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