Before the advent of the ubiquitous video camera, amateur filmmakers recorded their creative impulses and modest home movies on the tried-and-true format of film—16mm, 8mm, and even the now-rare 9.5mm. Archivist Dwight Swanson, from the Center for Home Movies, mines the treasure troves of American film archives to bring 16 of these unsung gems to the big screen, including one from the Walker’s own Ruben/Bentson Film and Video Study Collection. From personal frivolities to historical testimonials, Amateur Night presents a fascinating blend of documents spanning nine decades. 2011, 35mm, 84 minutes.
