Review of Zweigroschenzauber

While a certain amount of abstraction is to be expected in every film by German filmmaker Hans Richter, "Two Pence Magic" is somewhat of an exception. Instead of using photography to create unique effects and impressions on the audience, Richter's approach here is much more in the manner of the sort of compilation video you'd see on the Internet today, in that it is less about effect and more about blending unrelated clips together to create visual interest. The subtitle itself serves as an indication of what the filmmaker was going for - the phrase "A commercial in picture rhythm" suggests he was focused on creating a rhythm in the various clips of film edited together, and not nearly as much in the way of abstract effects.

"Two Pence Magic" is simply a very brief, two minute collage film that pieces together different segments of media, likely some of it found footage, through blending each clip with the next through the visual continuity they each share. This allows it to cycle through a series of completely unrelated topics while seeming whole and cohesive at the same time, a paradox that is best explained by watching the film itself. At the end, the commercial aspect becomes apparent and adds an extra layer to the movie, although the film is far from being a simple advertisement. Well done for what it's trying to accomplish, although not necessarily the classic type of Richter film most are used to.