’78/52′ is a 10/10 documentary

In the history of cinema, there are few directors more influential than Alfred Hitchcock and few classic horror sequences as significant as the famous shower scene in Hitchcock’s 1960 masterpiece, “Psycho.” While many may look at the scene now and see it as no more than a chilling piece of film, it is only when you pull back the curtains behind this moment that the true power of it becomes real.

Fortunately, SCAD Atlanta was lucky enough to experience the screening of the award-winning 2017 documentary  “78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene.” Presented by acclaimed documentary filmmaker Alexandre O. Philippe at SCADshow Jan. 24, the documentary delves into the history of Hitchcock’s iconic moment. Featuring world-renowned filmmakers giving a shot-by-shot analysis of the sequence, the film also goes into the making of “Psycho” and its influence on pop culture today.

A love letter to “Psycho” through and through, there is no shortage of inspired passion that has clearly gone into the making of this film. What immediately sticks out is the top notch direction, cinematography, music and production design, all of which lovingly pay homage to and successfully capture the feeling of Hitchcock (and much better than some certain 90s remakes).

The insight given into the shower sequence and the film itself was extremely well-handled. The film leaves no stone unturned, from going into the political and social influences of the time to getting into the technical aspects regarding the cinematography, editing and music. The film even covers the mistakes and flaws of the shower scene that make the entire process all the more fascinating. What helps even more is the wide variety of industry professionals, including directors, editors, music composers and actors, who help break down the scene.

Overall, “78/52” is a passionate homage to both the legacy of Hitchcock and the power of film as an art form. It is sure to give newcomers to filmmaking as well as movie buffs something to take away about the impact a film can leave with time, effort and vision.