By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.3 cats
Director: James Crump
Country: united_states
Year: 2021
Running time: 73
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11197424/reference
Chris says: “Architectural students and Mid-Century Modern devotees will find much to like in this study of Marcel Breuer, a Hungarian emigre, Bauhaus student and champion of Brutalism. Although he’s best known for works like the Whitney Museum and UNESCO Headquarters, the focus here is more on the innovative, rectangular box-like modernist homes he built for clients and friends in Litchfield, CT and Wellfleet, MA and how these connections cultivated a bohemian (albeit upper class) ad-hoc community. What’s unexpected is how this circle, including such colorful figures as Andy Gagarin and Rufus Stillman ends up hijacking the film as we come away knowing them far more intimately than the man whose name is in the title–he’s depicted as a craftsman, but he’s also a bit of an enigma or maybe just someone whose work is his story. 3 cats
“Screened at the Provincetown International Film Festival”
Julie says: “Interesting – and finally not a sad movie! It was an interesting documentary but I felt more depth of some of the various characters would have been better. Not always possible to get though. We can only wonder all that transpired. The architecture was fascinating as the characters in Breuer’s circle appeared to be, at least on the surface. 3.8 cats
“Screened at the Provincetown International Film Festival”
Beth C. says: “Directed by James Crump, a lovely documentary about the architect, Breuer. Lovely work and fabulous images of the buildings throughout the film, the film is worth seeing for the images alone. In addition, the architect and his associates are interesting rich white people. Indeed, they did some advanced progressive things, so it wasn’t all affluence all the time. There was the usual tension regarding descriptions of alcohol and infidelity. It was interesting, for sure. But, the film fails in a number of ways. The direction is basically just OK. It doesn’t rise to the challenge of tailoring the design of the film to match the artist. The musical score is pretty annoying. So, I’d say go ahead and watch it. But, the artistry of the film itself is lacking. 3 cats
“Screened at the Provincetown International Film Festival”