Sunday, August 24, 2014
Totally Berked
I watch a lot of movies and really appreciate the documentaries.
Among these, the work of Frederick Wiseman is at the pinnacle. Interesting, beautifully filmed and most of all, totally without narration.
Talk about your "show don't tell". This is Wiseman all over.
For two days, a long one. Over four hours. Two sessions worth.
It is a totally involving study of life on the famous campus. And it is not anything at all what I would expect.
I am very interested in universities. I interview students for my own school. I love to see the process.
What Wiseman has done is to show it all and, surprisingly, keep it at the human level throughout. These are weighty goings on here. But he never leaves the earth with it.
I learned a lot. I got to see stuff which was quite surprising for such a documentary. Street repair on the campus? Riveting.
I think that what makes these documentaries work is that they are filled with the juice of life.
I really enjoyed the experience and while I would be willing to see it all again, I will wait until I am invited. Still that is all is needed for a 4 out of 5 rating.
