"John Berger" is a short documentary directed by Jos de Putter, created as a portrait of the renowned writer, artist, and philosopher John Berger. The film was made in honor of Berger receiving the Stichting Groeneveld Award for his significant contributions to the debate on nature and landscape. This project marked the first collaboration between Jos de Putter and cinematographer Jean Counet, laying the foundation for a long-term creative partnership that included numerous episodes of VPRO Backlight and the feature-length documentary A Way to B.
The film captures Berger's profound reflections on art, nature, and humanity, presenting him not only as a thinker but as a deeply empathetic observer of the world. Counet's cinematography plays a pivotal role in conveying the intimacy and depth of Berger’s character. His ability to isolate key visual elements and suggest narratives through subtle framing enhances the philosophical undertones of the film. This approach aligns seamlessly with de Putter's poetic storytelling style.
The collaboration between de Putter and Counet in this film set the tone for their future projects, emphasizing visual storytelling that is both intuitive and conceptually rich. Together, they created a body of work that explores complex themes with elegance and depth, establishing them as significant contributors to contemporary documentary filmmaking.
Director: Jos de Putter
Cinematography: Jean Counet
Sound Recording: Joris van Ballegoijen
Editors: Stefan Kamp, Clara van Gool
Sound Design: Boon and Booy
Producer: Wink de Putter
(C) 2011 Dieptescherpte
Cinematography: Jean Counet
Sound Recording: Joris van Ballegoijen
Editors: Stefan Kamp, Clara van Gool
Sound Design: Boon and Booy
Producer: Wink de Putter
(C) 2011 Dieptescherpte
