Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 09/23/2005 Director: Ken BurnsThe beauty of Frank Lloyd Wright is that aside from telling a long and often melodramatic story lucidly, it deals with issues of art and architecture in ways that are approachable but not simplistic. (It’s also surprisingly scandalous, although this is seen as part of his art.) Wright was first and foremost a rebel who took his cues from nature, though, as one commentator points out, this is not to say his approach was natural. What he was rebelling against was the clutter and claustrophobia of Victorian architecture. The rooms he designed opened up on each other, and his exteriors seemed to grow laterally out of the landscape. All of these ideas are neatly illustrated–although it perhaps could have been explained how Wright’s later, whimsical designs related to his earlier, earthbound ones–with some marvelous footage of a Wright lily pad column supporting a load of sandbags and quiet Steadicam shots of Wright interiors that give the viewer a feeling for his sense of light and harmony. The filmmakers have wisely kept the technical talk to a minimum, but they are also not afraid to step back and let the experts ruminate on the nature of his genius, even when these experts are at a loss for words. Burns has made stars of some of his commentators in previous films, and in this one the late critic Brendan Gill shines. Wright himself comes across as a man who never doubted himself, a lousy father, and self-consciously Byronic. His vitality and larger-than-life persona seemed to belong to the 19th century, making him–and this is perhaps a mixed blessing–the last of his kind. –John Clark
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April 7, 2010
#1
Another reviewer of this documentary writes:
“Unwieldy and suffering from attention deficit disorder, his facades scream in contrast to the environs. Windowless and cold, you wonder how the interior can display such a warmth and balance. The outside and inside simply cannot the be the same building. This, to me is the essential dichotomy of this film and his personality. “
I refer this reviewer to “The Fountainhead” by Ayn Rand for an indepth explanation of the rational purpose behind this “essentail dichotomy.”
April 7, 2010
#2
This review is for “Fallingwater-a conversation with Edgar Kauffman Jr.” film. Most reviewers on this page are refering to the PBS documentary on Wright by Ken Burns.
This documentary (“Fallingwater-a conversation with Edgar Kauffman Jr.”)is quite special, as it looks at the process involved in making this incredible building, with interviews by the living Ed Kauffman Jr., many apprentices and old film footage. But the best is when they give a detailed tour of the house. Quite fascinating. This is the best documentary on Fallingeater I’ve ever seen. Very detailed, with lots stories by Ed Kauffman jr. et all. I can only hope this comes on DVD. A real gem!
April 7, 2010
#3
I am not quite sure that I have seen the contents of this particular tape, although a film on FLlW was telecast here in Australia a while ago. However what I have to say has to do with some of the above comments, rather than the video itself. First I’ll deal with a sentence found in the piece by “parallax442″. It says that Wright DESIGNED Falligwater in just under 3 hours. Actually what he means is : he DREW the presentation sketches. Not Michelangelo, not Palladio, not Sir Christopher Wren, Phillip Johnson, nor Mies van der Roe can or could DESIGN a house in that time. Not even a god can, I don’t think. The fact is that Wright began creating his masterpiece on the very minute he began SPEAKING with the Kaufmanns. Vieweing the intended site of the new house simply kicked his genius in full gear and the rest is (or should be) well known. At the time of the carefully documented phone call, announcing his client’s visit, Frank Lloyd Wright COPIED the stuff that was in his head. Is as simple as that (if anyone can call any such thing SIMPLE). Another thing to which I take exception, is the word “scandalous” used elsewhere with regards to his personal life. The guy married young an even younger and very beautiful girl, full of life. Sowed his oats (wild or domesticated,as the case may be) prior to that, during and after. He found a beautiful and spirited mistress etc. etc. etc. Knew joys, sorrow, pleasure and tragedy. Lived his life to the full as he knew how. Scandalous? Does anyone ever divorce or get a lover in America?
April 7, 2010
#4
I bought this dvd thinking that I wanted to see homes that Frank Lloyd Wright built, but this dvd does that no justice. This is a documentary of Frank Lloyd Wrights life, not a movie about his work. I do not suggest buying this unless you want to know about the man, not his work.
April 7, 2010
#5
A meandering and mediocre treatment of an American legend…with too much time spent on the symbolism, exposition, sidetracks and not enough on the subject…Wright & His Architecture. Burns work has steadily gone downhill since The Civil War. Did he produce this piece for passion or pay?