Director: Stan Brakhage
Year: 1972
Country: USA
Language: English
Length: 13 mins
Format: NTSC | R0
Colour: Colour
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Certificate: E

Synopsis

'The classical riddle was meant to be heard, of course. Its answers are contained within its questions, and on the smallest piece of itself this possibility depends upon sound 'utterly', like they say… the pun its pivot. Therefore, my Riddle of Lumen depends on qualities of light. All films do of course. But with the Riddle of Lumen, 'the hero' of the film is light itself. It is a film I'd long wanted to make – inspired by the sense, and specific formal possibilities, of the classical English riddle…only one appropriate to film and, thus, as distinct from language as I could make it.' — S.B.