The Weavers [1] or Grandmother Despina is a short silent, black and white documentary film made in 1905 by the Balkan film pioneers the Manaki brothers in the small Aromanian village of Avdella ( Aromanian: Avdhela), in the Ottoman vilayet of Monastir presently modern Greece. It is about 60 seconds long and depicts the Manakis' aunts and 114-year-old grandmother Despina spinning and weaving. [2] [3] [4] It was originally called "Our 114-year-old grandmother at work weaving", but has come to be known as The Weavers. [5]
It is believed to be the first film shot anywhere in the Ottoman Balkans. [6]
The film was shot with 35 mm film with an Urban Bioscope movie camera (serial number 300) imported from London. [6]
An extract from the film appears at the beginning of Theo Angelopoulos's 1995 film Ulysses' Gaze.
The Weavers [1] or Grandmother Despina is a short silent, black and white documentary film made in 1905 by the Balkan film pioneers the Manaki brothers in the small Aromanian village of Avdella ( Aromanian: Avdhela), in the Ottoman vilayet of Monastir presently modern Greece. It is about 60 seconds long and depicts the Manakis' aunts and 114-year-old grandmother Despina spinning and weaving. [2] [3] [4] It was originally called "Our 114-year-old grandmother at work weaving", but has come to be known as The Weavers. [5]
It is believed to be the first film shot anywhere in the Ottoman Balkans. [6]
The film was shot with 35 mm film with an Urban Bioscope movie camera (serial number 300) imported from London. [6]
An extract from the film appears at the beginning of Theo Angelopoulos's 1995 film Ulysses' Gaze.