Keeper of Time

A documentary looking at the world of watchmaking and clockmaking that also explores the social and philosophical elements of time.

I’ve always been a bit of a closet watch-admirer (although I only own one). It seems to come with the territory of being a closet car-admirer (also only one in the collection) - both sit at that sweet intersection between art and engineering. It’s the pinnacle of human brilliance.

Keeper of Time doesn’t have to do much to wow us then. It’s a beautiful film that travels through Europe visiting different watchmakers, while also thinking a lot about our perception of time as human beings. Perhaps it bites off a little more than it can chew in this regard given that there are so many areas of horology it leaves untouched, and its philosophical side is also pretty vague.

But it clearly wants to be more than just an advert for various artisans in Switzerland, and in that regard it does succeed. A good introduction to a rabbit hole that goes very very deep.