Watch Stations of the Elevated

Stations of the Elevated is a 1981 documentary film directed by Manfred Kirchheimer which captures the vibrant graffiti culture that emerged in the New York City subway system in the 1970s. The film features footage of subway trains covered in colorful tags and intricate murals, as well as the people who were part of this subculture.

The film begins with the opening sequence featuring a train passing through the Bronx, with the music playing in the background which sets the tone for the rest of the film. The film is an insightful look at the way in which urban decay and inequality during this time reflected the socio-cultural trends and the vibrant subculture of the city.

One of the standout features of the film is the way Kirchheimer uses sound to compliment the visuals. The film features a combination of street sounds, music, and ambient noise which gives the viewer a real sense of the energy and atmosphere of NYC during this time.

The film is organized into a series of vignettes, each focusing on a specific location, crew or individual artist who had a significant impact on the graffiti scene. This includes interviews and conversations with the graffiti artists themselves, providing an intimate perspective on the ways in which this form of urban art has influenced and was influenced by the broader cultural milieu of the city.

Throughout the film, Kirchheimer uses his filmmaker's eye to capture the beauty and intensity of the graffiti art that lines the walls of New York City's subway stations. The careful, almost reverent way in which he frames the images of the tags, murals and subway cars allows the audience to see the art form in a new and exciting way, as an integral part of the urban landscape.

In addition to its gritty depiction of a time and place in history, Stations of the Elevated also stands as an important and pioneering work in the field of documentary filmmaking. The film's innovative approach to sound design and editing, as well as its evocative use of imagery, have had a significant impact on subsequent generations of filmmakers who have turned their lenses on the world around them, and have been inspired by Kirchheimer's bold and immersive vision of NYC.

Overall, Stations of the Elevated succeeds in capturing the energy, creativity, and vitality of one of the most exciting and dynamic art movements to emerge from urban New York. The film serves as a timely reminder of the power that art can have to reflect, inform and transform the world around it, and of the crucial role that art and creativity have played in shaping the cultural landscape of our cities.

Stations of the Elevated is a 1981 documentary with a runtime of 45 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.