Non-narrative film is an aesthetic of cinematic film that does not narrate, or relate "an event, whether real or imaginary". It is usually a form of art film or experimental film, not made for mass entertainment.
Viking Eggeling. Drei momente des Horizontal-Vertikalorchesters. c 1921. From De Stijl, vol. 4, nr, 7 (July 1921): facing p. 112.
Four frames from "Diagonal-Symphonie"
Dziga Vertov, Man with a Movie Camera, Opening shot, 1929
Photographer and filmmaker Man Ray (pictured here in 1934) was part of the Dadaist "cinema pur" film movement, which influenced the development of art film.
An art film, art cinema, or arthouse film is typically an independent film, aimed at a niche market rather than a mass market audience. It is "intended to be a serious, artistic work, often experimental and not designed for mass appeal", "made primarily for aesthetic reasons rather than commercial profit", and containing "unconventional or highly symbolic content".
Carl Theodor Dreyer, pictured here in 1965, directed the 1928 film The Passion of Joan of Arc.
U.S. photographer and filmmaker Man Ray (pictured here in 1934) was part of the Dadaist "cinéma pur" film movement, which influenced the development of the art film.
Actress Lena Nyman from the Swedish film I Am Curious (Yellow)
Italian director Federico Fellini
