Eisenstein's Plastic Thought Revived at Centre Pompidou-Metz

The Centre Pompidou-Metz presents 'L'Œil extatique. Sergueï Eisenstein, cinéaste à la croisée des arts', a retrospective running until February 24, 2020, that reactivates the plastic thinking of Soviet filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein. Curated by Ada Ackerman (CNRS) and Philippe-Alain Michaud (Mnam-Centre Pompidou), the exhibition juxtaposes Eisenstein's films with historical and modern artworks, exploring his concept of 'montage of attractions'—a dialectic between pathetic shocks and organic contemplation. The scenography by architect Jean-Julien Simonot uses a tubular metal structure reminiscent of constructivist displays, echoing Eisenstein's unbuilt 'Glass House' project. Works from Russia, the Louvre, and Musée d'Orsay are paired with film sequences, such as Rodin's 'Éternal Spring' with 'October' (1927) and Piranesi's 'Prisons' with 'Strike' (1924). A special evening on February 5, 2020, at Centre Pompidou Paris features 'Sergei Eisenstein by Kenneth Anger' with a presentation by Philippe-Alain Michaud.