There’s an idea in every frame of this film. In an interview conducted by filmmaker Noah Baumbach, De Palma references the opportunity of a blank canvas. A space to be filled with ideas. Creative fragments that can be pieced together to form one cohesive picture.

As an example, De Palma notes films that open with stock helicopter footage of a city. “Is this supposed to be an idea? We’re in Manhattan?” For him, this is a lost opportunity for an idea to shine.

Often, the best ideas are born out of context. For instance, the most cinematic shots aren’t necessarily the most poetic compositions, but rather, they are the ones in which the camera’s position, lighting, music, performance, and narrative all work together in perfect harmony.

There’s a raw artistry in this kind of filmmaking. And we feel it when we see it.