Benares Chungking Ichang

Arresting early film images of both northern India and central and south western China.

The first two thirds of this reel of film show what is now the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India, including street and port life at Benares (now Varanasi), rural life and the Taj Mahal (closely studied by the camera). Then without explanation the film moves to China, presenting stunning mountainous views taken in the Chongqing area, plus a shot of a pagoda near Yichang.

The original provenance of this reel of 35mm film is obscure, so its geographical range is unexplained. Perhaps two or more pieces of film were at some point joined together by a collector. Or maybe these are images taken, at different stages during an Eastern trip, by a well-travelled and wealthy amateur filmmaker.