inspired by the dream of the artist. In it, the Prelude contains many of the images that recur throughout the rest of the film series, creating a visual leitmotif of the many symbols and concepts of the series of films. There are also many instances to what Brakhage calls "close-eyed vision". Broadly, the Prelude exemplifies, among other things, the creation of the universe. Part I The longest of the film cycle, running at about 30 minutes, Part I comprises most of the narrative of the film cycle in which the woodsman struggles with his journey up the mountain along with his dog. Unlike the Prelude, where there are many instances of superimposed images that are more abstract to the eye, Part I is more impressionistic. Major parts of the film are in slow-motion; others, in time-lapse photography, speeding up motion. One of the most important images in Part I is the mountain that Brakhage attempts to climb. Part II In contrast to the lengthy running times of the earlier films, Part II begins a series of shorter segments that run from around 5–7 minutes. Its central focus is on the birth of a child which was filmed on black and white film stock as a part of Brakhage's home movies that he shot during the time; stylistically, the filming of childbirth in an almost documentary-like way is quite similar to Window Water Baby Moving. Two layers of imagery are imposed over one another, suggesting that the woodsman's life is passing right before his eyes. Legacy The entire film (Prelude and Parts 1 through 4) was named to the National Film Registry in 1992. Below are the individual films of the series and their release dates: Prelude: Dog Star Man (1961) Dog Star Man: Part I (1962) Dog Star Man: Part II (1963) Dog Star Man: Part III (1964) Dog Star Man: Part IV (1964) The film is part of the by Brakhage: an Anthology collection DVD from The Criterion Collection. The film has received a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 9 reviews including praises from film critics like J. Hoberman and Jonathan Rosenbaum. References External links Description of Brakhage's work. Dog Star Man essay by Daniel Eagan in America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry, A&C Black, 2010 , pages 606-607 BFI United States National Film Registry films Films directed