Entre preto e branco: para uma estética monocromática do cinema depois do Technicolor

In December 28th, 1896 the Lumière Brothers presented L'Arrivée d'un Train à La Ciotat at the "Grand Café" in Paris – it was the first cinema projection in history. With the invention of the cinematographer the Lumière brothers showed the world a new art that would quickly become a billion dollar industry. In 1927 Warner Brothers revolutionized the world with the film The Jazz Singer, a musical that for the first time in the history of cinema had some dialogues and songs combined with completely muted fragments. A year later, in 1928, Warner Brothers completes the sound revolution with the film The Lights of New York - the first film with fully synchronized sound. Using the revolutionary and innovative Technicolor technology, a film is presented in 1935 in colour for the first time: Becky Sharp - directed by Rouben Mamoulian. Black and white is freed from its technique imposition and assumes a new status as an alternative aesthetic, distinct and detached from the unpleasantness provided by colours. A monochrome option that calls for greater involvement of the viewer while at the same time lessens distraction factors and expands moments of concentration. A black and white aesthetics that blends a very unique atmosphere, often enhanced by emotional and cultural spectator's motivations; and less concerned with commercial appeal of the film or television industry, where colour reigns. Over a century of technological evolution dictated profound changes in the art of filmmaking. The advent of sound and later of colour was transformative and had profound effects. If sound allowed the spectator to start living in a new and coveted environment and put end to the perhaps unappealing silent film; the introduction of colour did not cause rupture. With Technicolor film could display colour but the production of film in black and white never ceased to exist. On the contrary, throughout the history of cinema several movements found motivation and meaning in black and white - aesthetics with tradition and prospect, both pioneer and modern that can often take on novelty characteristics.