13 Lakes

13 Lakes is a 2004 16mm film by American independent filmmaker James Benning. It is an instance of slow cinema, placing emphasis on introspection and contemplation.[1]

13 Lakes
Directed byJames Benning
Running time
135 minutes

Summary

The film is 135 minutes long and consists of 13 ten-minute static shots of lakes from throughout the United States. There is no conventional plot, characters or dialogue. The composition has been described as "symmetrical, minimalistic and repetitive", encouraging "sensory and sensuous engagement".[1]

In several cases, boats can be seen and sounds such as waves, motors, bird calls, thunder and rain can be heard. Benning has said that he does not intend the work to be about environmentalism.[2]

Lakes

According to the credits, the lakes are:

  1. Jackson Lake - Wyoming
  2. Moosehead Lake - Maine
  3. Salton Sea - California
  4. Lake Superior - bordered by Ontario, Minnesota, Wisconsin, & Michigan
  5. Lake Winnebago - Wisconsin
  6. Lake Okeechobee - Florida
  7. Lower Red Lake - Minnesota
  8. Lake Pontchartrain - Louisiana
  9. Great Salt Lake - Utah
  10. Lake Iliamna - Alaska
  11. Lake Powell - Utah & Arizona
  12. Crater Lake - Oregon
  13. Lake Oneida - New York

Legacy

The film was added to the US National Film Registry as a "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant film" in 2014.[3][4][5]

References
  1. "Book Review: Slow Cinema edited by Tiago de Luca and Nuno Barradas Jorge". 2016-02-19. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  2. "James Benning's Art of Landscape: Ontological, Pedagogical, Sacrilegious". Senses of Cinema. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  3. "2014 additions to National Film Registry". CBS News. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  4. "Complete National Film Registry Listing | Film Registry | National Film Preservation Board | Programs at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 2020-05-15.
  5. "Cinematic Treasures Named to National Film Registry". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 2020-05-15.
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