Category Archives: Documentary

Coming to theatres today, Wednesday, November 5: NATIONAL GALLERY

Frederick Wiseman’s exploration of the London museum bowed at Cannes. It has gone on to screen at Toronto, NYFF, Deauville, Biografilm, London, Chicago, Rio, Zurich, Vancouver, Sydney, and Busan, among several others.

In line with the documentary master’s studies of institutions, Wiseman’s latest film offers an expanded look at the titular museum, both from the perspective of a visitor and of an insider. At the same time, the film is not only concerned with exposing works of art and those who display them, but also in interrogating the very act of viewing them. As Wiseman’s camera travels through the exhibits, it mimics the behavior of a patron, surveying the artwork both at a distance and in detail, then listening in as guides provide historical context, or, for younger attendees, guidance on how to find stories among the pieces. Later, Wiseman goes behind the scenes, as the work of restoration is intriguingly revealed, including the discovery of unexpected treasures from the application of modern technology to centuries’ old canvases; audits staff meetings in which a debate ensues about accessibility vs elitism; and follows curators as they meticulously arrange pieces to maximize the impact of their presentation and avoid unseemly shadows. The director also offers a survey of other activities taking place at the gallery, from art appreciation for the blind, nude model drawing, and even poetry or dance performances. While some of the latter feel like they cross the line into excess, as a whole these scenes demonstrate on a key theme – public access to art – of which the well-constructed film itself serves as a self-reflexive example.