The Adventures of Prince Achmed

Lotte Reiniger's film is regarded as the oldest surviving animated feature, and its technique is entirely hand-cut silhouette. Paper and lead figures were moved one frame at a time on a glass table lit from beneath, and the work took around three years. The story comes out of the Arabian Nights: a flying horse, a sorcerer, a witch, a mountain of fire, and Achmed meeting Pari Banu on the island of the peris. Reiniger's silhouettes are not rigid, with fingers, strands of hair and folds of cloth all articulated separately. Colour was supplied by tinting the film stock scene by scene. For all the simplicity of the image, the fluidity of movement still surprises. Who it is for: viewers interested in the history of animation and in silent cinema. Who it is not for: anyone wanting character depth and dialogue, since this is built entirely on form.