Tables d'hiver (1979) | Teo Hernández's Intimate and Kinetic Still Life | Experimental Cinema

From the Vaults of LostReel: A Dazzling Exploration of Domestic Space and Time

LostReel is honored to present "Tables d'hiver" (Winter Tables), a captivating and intimate work from the visionary experimental filmmaker Teo Hernández. Created between 1978 and 1979, this film transforms the everyday and the domestic into a site of kinetic and magical energy, showcasing the unique "corporeal" filmmaking style for which Hernández is celebrated.

A Still Life in Constant Motion.
"Tables d'hiver" centers on the seemingly simple setting of a room, focusing on daily gestures and meals. However, in Hernández's hands, this reality quickly dissolves into the imaginary. Through his restless and ever-moving Super 8 camera, the passage of time is accelerated. Shadows race across the room, meals are consumed in a flurry of movement, and shimmering fabrics and veils obscure and reveal objects. Tables become mirrors reflecting the sky or shimmering carpets, turning a confined space into a boundless universe.

The Alchemical Camera of Teo Hernández.
A key figure in the French experimental scene, Teo Hernández pioneered a filmmaking style that was intensely physical. The camera acts as an extension of his body, and its movements—fast, swirling, and rhythmic—are a form of choreography. In "Tables d'hiver," this technique creates a magical alchemy, imbuing inanimate objects with a vibrant pulse. By accelerating images and suppressing backgrounds, Hernández extracts objects from their context and gives them a life of their own, creating a visual experience that is pure light, texture, and motion.

An Avant-Garde Gem of Intimate Cinema.
"Tables d'hiver" is a mesmerizing example of Hernández’s diaristic and poetic approach to cinema. It is a film that finds the cosmic in the commonplace and demonstrates his baroque philosophy of putting "the maximum in the minimum." As a platform dedicated to unearthing cinematic gems, LostReel invites you to experience this beautiful and singular work of avant-garde filmmaking that re-enchants the world before our eyes.

Director: Teo Hernández
Year: 1979

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