The Expression of Hands
Historically, the cinema close-up was initially employed to convey emotions through facial expressions. But soon filmmakers also began focusing their attention on hands. Using film extracts, Farocki explores this visual language, its symbolism, Freudian slips, automatisms and its music. Often, hands betray an emotion which the face tries to dissimulate. They can also function as a conduit (exchanging money) or witness to a form of competence (work).
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Cast
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Harun Farocki Director · Jörg Becker Writer Ingo Kratisch Cinematographer
First release September 7, 1997 · Produced in Germany · Languages English, German
Production
Harun Farocki Filmproduktion
Production
Germany
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Der Ausdruck der Hände
Original language
German
Spoken on screen
English · German
Release dates
Germany · September 7, 1997
Theatrical
No release date listed for United States.
Thailand
October 1, 2025 · Premiere · Bangkok International Film Festival
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Some details come from TheTVDB.