The subject is two grotesque-looking human beings who are sitting on the deck of a ship. The two weird individuals sit cross-legged and do the bidding of a man in oriental costume. The point of the film seems to be directed at the fact that the bone structure of the two subjects makes them look like monkeys or apes, and the spectators seem to be trying to get them to behave like monkeys, that is, scratch themselves, etc.
Kieslowski’s later film Dworzec (Station, 1980) portrays the atmosphere at Central Station in Warsaw after the rush hour.
Almost 200 women file by a device on the wall from which they take their time checks. A man runs half-way across the screen at the end of the film.
A camera on an overhead crane travels down a large, long aisle where men are shown working on large machinery on either side. Carts carrying equipment are shown traveling on rails down the aisles. There are also men walking in the aisles. From Bitzer's Westinghouse Works series.
On the left of the screen, a small group of men lift the top off of what appears to be a turbine with a crane and continue to check the machine, tightening various parts with wrenches. On the right side, a few men appear to be testing the workings of what may be a turbine.
Footage of the German airship Hansa over Copenhagen.
A group of people are standing along the platform of a railway station in La Ciotat, waiting for a train. One is seen coming, at some distance, and eventually stops at the platform. Doors of the railway-cars open and attendants help passengers off and on. Popular legend has it that, when this film was shown, the first-night audience fled the café in terror, fearing being run over by the "approaching" train. This legend has since been identified as promotional embellishment, though there is evidence to suggest that people were astounded at the capabilities of the Lumières' cinématographe.
Women getting onto a rickshaw.
A very graceful dance with voluminous draperies, by Annabelle Moore, well-known on the metropolitan stage.
Different species of fish and frogs, inside an aquarium.
Marquesas in their sedan chairs.
Lyon, Men rescue rabbits from flood.
A crowd of spectators listen to President William McKinley's speech during his inauguration ceremony outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
19th century carnival ride.
People gather at the exit of the St. Trophime cathedral in Arles.
Pedestrian and various vehicles traffic on Place Bellecour, in Lyon.
Horses and their riders make their way into the compact and agitated crowd of spectators.
The main market square in the heart of Brussels.
Coach W. Hickenbotham takes "Newhaven" out of his box and places the horse at the center of the paddock. Gardiner, the jockey, saddles up the horse, rides it and begins to spin, slowly.
Panorama during the ascent of the Eiffel Tower.