1941 (1941)
A four-minute avant-garde short by Francis Lee, channeling the shock of Pearl Harbor through abstract imagery and Stravinsky's music.
1941 - Movie Information
- Original Title: 1941
- Release Year: 1941
- Directed by: Francis Lee
- Type: Movie
- Runtime: 4m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: No Language
- Release Date (Theatrical): November 14, 1941 (United States)
- Alternative Titles: Nineteen Forty-One (US)
- Production Countries: United States of America
1941 - Plot
In December, 1941, using music by Stravinsky, this film provides a reaction to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. An egg is smashed by a hammer; red color with white and then blue dominates the frame. Blue paint runs; small bulbs float. The dark colors spread. White, red, blue, and black dominate the frame. Then comes fire. The bulbs burn and break. A broken bulb's filaments are exposed.
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1941 - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Francis Lee
1941 - FAQs
What is the 1941 short film about?
1941 is an avant-garde short film by Francis Lee that responds to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Using Stravinsky's music as its backbone, it unfolds through abstract imagery — smashed eggs, surging colors of red, white, and blue, floating bulbs, and finally fire — to evoke shock, grief, and patriotic defiance.
What makes 1941 an avant-garde film?
Rather than telling a story with characters or dialogue, 1941 communicates entirely through abstract visuals and music. Francis Lee uses color, texture, and rhythm — smashing eggs, running paint, burning bulbs — to provoke an emotional reaction, placing it firmly in the experimental and avant-garde tradition of early cinema.
Where can you watch the 1941 short film?
You can stream 1941 for free on Kanopy, a library-supported streaming platform available to anyone with a public library card. It's a great option for discovering rare experimental and avant-garde films without any subscription cost.
What music is used in the film 1941?
Francis Lee scored 1941 with music by Igor Stravinsky. The choice is deliberate — Stravinsky's modernist, rhythmically charged compositions mirror the film's fragmented, visceral imagery, amplifying the emotional impact of the response to the Pearl Harbor attack and giving the abstract visuals a powerful sonic anchor.
Who directed the short film 1941?
Francis Lee directed 1941, also serving as its cinematographer. Lee was an American experimental filmmaker active in the mid-twentieth century, known for pioneering abstract and non-narrative cinema. His work on 1941 stands as one of the earliest American avant-garde responses to a major historical event.
How long is the short film 1941?
1941 runs just 4 minutes — a remarkably compact runtime that makes its emotional punch all the more concentrated. In those few minutes, Francis Lee manages to convey the shock and sorrow of Pearl Harbor through pure visual abstraction, proving that brevity and impact can go hand in hand.
Is 1941 based on real historical events?
Yes, 1941 is a direct artistic response to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 — one of the most defining moments in American history. Rather than documenting the event literally, Francis Lee channels the collective shock and grief through abstract imagery, making it a deeply personal and emotional reaction.
What are similar films to the short film 1941?
If 1941 resonates with you, explore other landmark experimental shorts like La Jetée (1962), a haunting science-fiction film told almost entirely in still photographs, or the pioneering early cinema of Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory (1895) and A Trip to the Moon (1902). All share a spirit of visual experimentation and boundary-pushing storytelling.
More About 1941
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