Robert Kramer, an American filmmaker who began with an unprecedented chronicling of the political movements of the 1960s and 70s, moved to Paris in 1980 and continued his exploration into the personal lives and political implications of the activities of his generation. When he didn’t come home and join the Sundance crowd, an ostensibly “alternative” system of filmmaking, he doomed himself, as he himself said, to never be seen or appreciated in America. This has proved to be tragically true, and the consequences have been to eliminate from the American consciousness the extraordinary insights his films give on questions we have in the 21st century forgotten even to ask.

 

This web site is intended to provide information about, analysis of, and a thorough introduction to his work, and because of its nature, also into his life. There is (will be) space for anyone who has known him, or seen his work, and who wishes to contribute to this effort to join the discussion. Film critics, Kramer’s collaborators, people he knew and worked with, however briefly, are especially encouraged to contribute. In short, we hope this will be a gathering place which in its depth and breadth might attract film lovers, historians, social critics and commentators to a greater interest in the films, which comprise Kramer’s work.

 

While there are many sites which provide tantalizing bits: reviews of individual films or several of them, general commentaries attached to his obituaries, or as part of the all-too-infrequent film retrospectives, none have had the reach or the depth to which this site aspires. It can have this only if others join us in the work.

 

If you would like to write or have written about Kramer’s films and would like to post your work to this site, click here.