Fingerprint - Shorts

Jørgen Leth, who made a name for himself among the European experimental filmmakers of the 1960s with his unique style, puts Danish Torben Ulrich, one of the most famous tennis stars of the period, in front of his camera in this 1970 short film. The legendary Danish sportsman, also known as the father of Lars Ulrich, founder of the famous band Metallica, appears in this film not with his own fame, but as a subject whose movements are recorded. Leth focuses on the nature of motion by following Ulrich's training sessions in this experimental film with his colleague Ole John, with whom he has worked for years.

An experimental sports film made partly during the Scandinavian Open Championships in Halmstad in 1970, partly during the Chinese players' exhibition tour in Denmark immediately after the Cultural Revolution. In the film, Jørgen Leth records, first of all, China's return to the world of international sport, as we see the highest level of ping-pong players showcasing their unique style.

Jørgen Leth captures the game of pelota, also known as ‘basque ball’, which is played by hitting a small ball covered with hard rubber against a wall, in the Basque Country, the birthplace of this sport. With music by Ennio Morricone, this documentary film explores the intricacies of pelota and focuses on the importance of this historic sport in Basque culture. Leth does not only show the performance of a sport in the arenas or on the courses, but also draws attention to how it can affect the streets of a culture.