Pictures of the Middle Ages
Directed by William Novik1949 18m[Documentary](/on-demand/category/documentary), [Short](/on-demand/category/short)
Drawing exclusively from illuminated manuscripts of the 14th and 15th centuries held by the French National Library, this short documentary presents a medieval vision of life—from Creation and birth through labor, pleasure, death, and the Day of Judgment. Constructed as a visual essay, the film treats manuscript illumination as a complete worldview rather than illustration alone. Screened in competition at the 1949 Cannes Film Festival, it won the Prize for Best Colour.
