Investigating the decline of the US agency for global media . fantastic machine

Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now" (1972) is like a ray of sunshine in song form—perfect for chasing away the clouds and starting the project in a good mood. The lyric video, with its reggae-like groove and Nash's velvety voice, exudes pure joie de vivre: "I can see clearly now, the rain is gone..." It's as if the song is saying, "No matter what comes, we can see clearly now!"—it carries the mood from the beginning to Kari Lake's speech and then flows into the main film, the Swedish documentary "And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine!", which begins with the bear scene. The music is like a joyful handshake that holds everything together.

And the king said: What a fantastic machine!
This 2023 Swedish documentary, directed by Axel Danielson and Maximilien Van Aertryck, offers a fascinating insight into our obsession with cameras. In 1 hour and 27 minutes (my editor cuts the beginning a bit to get straight to the point), it tells the story of how cameras have changed our behavior—from selfies to surveillance to viral moments like the pig at the puddle. The film begins with a wild bear scene and remains visually captivating, with clever editing and music that perfectly underscores the story. Political without being overly emotional, the film shows how we see the world through the lens of this camera—and the impact it has on us. >Beware, if you're afraid of heights!—the high-altitude shots!

The filmmakers:
Axel Danielson: Swedish director and producer, known for his collaboration with Maximilien Van Aertryck. Both have made a name for themselves with short films like "Ten Meter Tower," in which they analyze human behavior with wit and depth.

Maximilien Van Aertryck: Also Swedish, a master at questioning everyday phenomena through the camera. Together, they create films that are clever, visually striking, and universally appealing.
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The performance in the Midnight Special from May 4, 1973 (https://youtu.be/aSxAnE_93jI?list=RDaSxAnE_93jI) is today's highlight and finale. Johnny Nash lights up the stage.

The film:
"And the King said, what a fantastic machine!"
A documentary about the history of the camera and our relationship with it. The human obsession with filming and photographing the world has changed our behavior. What happens to the world when everyone is busy capturing it in pictures? Filmmakers Axel Danielson and Maximilien Van Aertryck explore humanity's love for the world through the camera lens. Swedish documentary from 2023, broadcast terrestrially and via satellite.