Chott el-Djerid (A Portrait in Light and Heat)
MovieReleased

Chott el-Djerid (A Portrait in Light and Heat)

DirectorBill Viola

6.3 / 10
1979
28 min
Documentary

Driven by a quest to capture a landscape reduced to flatness and sky, Viola travels to Chott El-Djerid. The film opens with images of snowy prairies and winter scenes, mirrored by warm, vibrating desert vistas. Through powerful telephoto lenses, shimmering mirages and warped forms emerge under extreme heat and light. These visuals evoke a space where dream and waking reality merge. Viola’s journey transcends documentation, transforming viewing into a reflective exploration of the limits of perception.

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