It's baaack!
The challenge that refuses to die. After being cut short in March of 2020 and completely absent from 2021, I'm bringing back A Year of Film History… for 2022 because
a) I love exploring film history and
b) a lot of y'all still seem interested in this particular challenge and have even taken it upon yourselves to continue it independently in your own fashion! So yeah, you've inspired me. I'm not sure how well I'll be able to keep up on it but hey, here goes…

What is this challenge?
For every month in 2022 I am going to watch at least four films (so around one a week) from that month's decade, using the following schedule:

January -- (birth of film to 1909)
February -- (1910s)
March -- (1920s)
April -- (30s)
May -- (40s)
June -- (50s)
July -- (60s)
August -- (70s)
September -- (80s)
October -- (90s)
November -- (2000s)
December -- (2010 - present)

While most challenges on Letterboxd are for a single month only or each week spaced out over the course of a year, this challenge is monthly and the goal here is to give yourself an excuse/motivation each month to watch some classic films from every decade and fill in some of the holes in your cinematic viewing history.

How do you get started?
Easy! Just make a new list on Letterboxd of at least 4 movies from January's time period (birth of cinema to 1909)
or
make a complete list that contains at least four movies from each month's decade.

I prefer the first method myself because it keeps things flexible, that way I won't end up marking something down as 'to watch' for October or December but then I'm suddenly in the mood to watch it much earlier than that.

Wait, when does this start?
Umm...today? I know we're already into January, but no worries. Most of the films from this month's time period are less than 10 minutes long anyways so catching up should not be hard for either of us.

Does it matter which 4 movies you watch for each decade?
Nope! But personally I'm going to make a point of watching at least one film that is critically lauded, historically important, or otherwise a classic from each decade.

Does it have to be only four?
Nah, watch as many as you like! I'd just say beware of burn out and keep some flexibility for other challenges/new releases/stuff you're just really in the mood for that day.

Do we absolutely have to stick to watching the movies for this challenge in order?
Not necessarily, I think the most important part is just watching them! However, there is something to be said for working your way up through the decades and observing the way the medium evolves. You'll have a better sense of why some movies have a special place in film history when you see how it's different from the kinds of movies that preceded it.

I don't know what to watch, especially for the earlier years:
That's cool. Here's some helpful lists:
DBC's Somewhat Helpful Guide to 19th Century Cinema
Top 300 Silent Era Films
The Story of Film: An Odyssey
1001 Movies to See Before You Die: 2021 Edition

Ok, that's it for now! If I think of more I'll update this later.

If you decide for some weird reason you want to try this challenge too tag your list/reviews with YearofFilmHistory or FilmHistory2022 to let others know what kind of stuff you're checking out. And be sure to post your list here in the comments so I can add you to the list of particpants/ooo and ahh over your choices.