I first thought it was Amores Perros that began this trend.
Since then I have seen so many films like this which have parallel stories intersecting at a common time.
But perhaps this 1989 film, Mystery Train is the oldest in this style of narration, as far as i have seen.
I am sure there have to be other films before.
Can u please name them for me.
I want to find out which was THE FIRST FILM to start this trend.
Any idea?
You'd do well to look into the films of Robert Altman. He was directing films with crisscrossing narratives as early as 1970. I'm sure there are examples of this style of film that date further back then that, but Altman is pretty much universally acknowleged as its progenitor and pioneer.
shareMikhail Kalatozov did an excellent job even before Altman.
Soy Cuba ('64)
well, D.W Griffith's "Intolerance", a film from 1916, features intertwined stories, in that case by the concept of the intolerance.
However I wouldn't be surprised at all if even older films have used this narrative device.
.
Grand Hotel was a classic in this vein. three intersecting stories in adjacent hotel rooms.
hmm, never thought about it but this one is sort of a "Not So Grand Hotel"