A brief History: Im Wannseebad

(On Wannsee Beach)

Production date: ca. 1910

Im Wannseebad was shot on the shores of the Wannsee, a lake in Berlin. It is an astonishing mixture of documentary footage and filmed scenes, in which the camera plays a role. The author of this film is unfortunately unknown, as is the year of production and distribution.

The film was quite probably shot with one of the very first mahogany cameras, similar to the one the filmmaker sets up in the water. These cameras with their rudimentary cubic housing were rarely seen outside the studio, since they suffered when exposed to extremes of temperature and bad weather.

The mechanism was still rudimentary at that time. The film was wound on by turning a handle. However, technical innovations soon improved the system. In 1911, the cameras were given metal housing and an electric motor to wind the film.

With the development and marketing of the Pathé-Baby system (Pathex outside of France) in the early 1920s, amateur films saw the light of day. This system comprised a lightweight camera and a projector and was less expensive than its predecessors. The cameraman of Im Wannseebad demonstrated with virtuosity to what extent primitive shots could be technical.

The original music for this film was composed by Aidje Tafial in 2008.

See the film About the film