5 Films That Inspire Marcel Dzama

Marcel Dzama’s connection to cinema forms the foundation of his entire work, from drawings to video pieces. The five films below stand out as key sources of inspiration that have shaped his narrative style.

A Trip to the Moon (1902), Georges Méliès
This pioneering work of early cinema has influenced Dzama’s visual style from the very beginning and sparked his fascination with moon imagery. The magical effect of Méliès’s in-camera illusions continues to resonate in his drawings and video works. 

The Red Shoes (1948), Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger
This is the film that truly awakened Dzama’s love for ballet. Its surreal climactic sequence remains one of his favorite scenes in cinema and continues to inspire his creations. 

The Third Man (1949), Carol Reed
A formative film that made Dzama fall in love with cinema—and older films in particular—at a young age. Orson Welles’s Ferris wheel monologue is, for Dzama, a masterpiece of dialogue. The film’s use of light and shadow has had a lasting impact on his visual work. 

M (1931), Fritz Lang
A classic that tells the story of a pitiful serial killer through masterful pacing and mise-en-scène. Dzama sees M as a source of inspiration for many following thrillers. Peter Lorre’s haunting performance, combined with the film’s play of light and shadow, has deeply influenced Dzama’s video work. 

The Holy Mountain (1973), Alejandro Jodorowsky
“This film’s strangeness truly expanded the possibilities of cinema,” says Dzama. A late discovery, but a powerful one. Visually striking, The Holy Mountain offers a surreal world where every frame could stand alone as a photograph.