Where to watch An Optical Poem (1938)
Yes — An Optical Poem is free on Kanopy, which you get through most public libraries with a library card.
A dance of shapes. A title card tells us this is an experiment in conveying the mental images of music in a visual form. Liszt's "Second Hungarian Rhapsody" is the music. The shapes, all two-dimensional, are circles primarily, with some squares and rectangles, and a few triangles. The shapes move rhythmically to the music: receding from view or moving across the screen. Red circles on a blue background; light blue squares; white rectangles. Then, a red background of many circles with a few in the foreground. Red gives way to blue then to white. Shapes reappear as Liszt's themes re-occur. Then, with a few staccato notes and images, it's over.
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An Optical Poem — common questions
- Can I watch An Optical Poem for free?
- Yes. An Optical Poem is streaming at no cost on Kanopy. These are licensed services — free because they run ads or are funded by public libraries, not because they are pirating anything.
- Is An Optical Poem on Netflix?
- No. An Optical Poem is not on Netflix here. The services that do carry it are listed above.
- How do I watch An Optical Poem without paying anything?
- Through a library. Kanopy is free to use but signs you in with a library or university card, so you will need one — most public library systems in the US and UK include it at no charge.
- How long is An Optical Poem?
- An Optical Poem runs 7 minutes.
