Unfolding, happening, arising. About Lav Diaz's situation-shots
Abstract
This text analyses the spatial tension at work in Lav Diaz’s films, rather than their temporal extension, in particular by proposing the notion of situation-shot. It shows that people and animals tend to appear slowly in the shots; when their appearance in the shots is sudden, it is associated with violent events. On the scale of the film, these situation-shots create spatial mosaics, turning the characters into territorial beings within wide shots in which they occupy a small space.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Cinema History and Criticism
Ethics
Aesthetics
and Art
Spatial and Cultural Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Routledge eBooks
- Pages
- 153–164
- Publication date
- 3 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter