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Poster for The Expression of Hands
Harun Farocki Filmproduktion

The Expression of Hands

1997 30 min German
Wubly rating 7.0 IMDb rating 7.2

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

1 person

Harun Farocki Director · Jörg Becker Writer

First release September 7, 1997 · Produced in Germany · Languages English, German

Production

H

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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