Benning's deceptively simple titles for 13 Lakes belies the richly nuanced worlds of light, shadow, stillness, and change in each films' 10-minute long shots. Structurally and conceptually minimalist, 13 Lakes presents as many bodies of water from across the United States - each chosen for its unique historical, ecological and geographical characteristics, and each framed to divide the image evenly between water and sky. The precision and rigor of the film's form intensifies the experience of duration, with Benning's long takes embracing both his subject (to which he is acutely attentive) and his audience (to whom he generously offers the time for audio-visual immersion), inviting us to share in his sober contemplation of the ever-subtly shifting mystery of the natural world.
- Harvard Film Archive