Absolute Wilson (2006)

Absolute Wilson (2006) (DVD) (*)

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Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 5.1 )
German ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Germany ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
101 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
2-DVD Set
Cast/Crew Interview(s)
Documentary
Interactive Menu
Posters
Scene Access
Special Edition
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 2006 and produced in:
Germany ( Germany, Central Europe )
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Katharina Otto

Written By:
Katharina Otto

Actors:
Robert Wilson ..... Himself
William S. Burroughs ..... Himself (archive footage)
David Byrne ..... Himself
Charles Fabius ..... Himself
Philip Glass ..... Himself
Jessye Norman ..... Herself
Carl Rux ..... As Himself
Susan Sontag ..... Herself
Tom Waits ..... Himself (archive footage)
Suzanne Wilson ..... Herself

Synopsis:

Absolute Wilson, directed by Katharina Otto-Bernstein, belongs to a reliable documentary subgenre: the admiring profile of a famous artist. The subject in this case is Robert Wilson, the avant-garde theater director - though that description hardly does justice to his work - who speaks on camera with unusual candor, especially about his family and his early life. It is curious, but perhaps also inevitable, that someone who is so willing to dispense with conventions of realism and narrative continuity in his art should inspire such a conventional film. The tried-and-true PBS-worthy techniques - interviews with acquaintances and experts, archival video and still images, glimpses behind the scenes - serve Ms. Otto-Bernstein and Mr. Wilson reasonably well. And his stage productions are challenging enough to benefit from some explication. Without insisting on a single interpretive framework (biographical, historical, sociological, etc.) and without supposing that Mr. Wilson's work can ever be fully understood, 'Absolute Wilson' provides a satisfying overview. It will be sure to pique the interest of novices without insulting the sophistication of devotees.

Absolute Wilson chronicles the epic life, times and creative genius of Robert Wilson, intimately revealing for the first time one of the most controversial, rule-breaking and downright mysterious artists of our era. More than a biography, the film becomes an exhilarating exploration of the transformative power of creativity itself and the inspirational tale of a boy who grew up as a troubled and learning-disabled outsider in the American South only to become a fearless artist with a profoundly original perspective to share with the world. The probing yet playful narrative reveals the deep inter-connections between Wilson's childhood experiences and the haunting beauty of his monumental works, which include the theatrical sensations Deafman Glance, Einstein on the Beach and The CIVIL WarS. Along the way, the film introduces an array of admirers, friends and critics -ranging from musician David Byrne to the late writer Susan Sontag to composer Phillip Glass and singer Jessye Norman, among others-who add insight as the film peels back layer after layer to get to a raw, forthcoming and uniquely moving view of how Wilson's work emerged from an extraordinary life and a ceaseless yearning to communicate. urf.

This documentary chronicles the epic life, times and creative genius of Robert Wilson, intimately revealing for the first time one of the most controversial, rule-breaking and downright mysterious artists of our era. More than a biography, the film becomes an exhilarating exploration of the transformative power of creativity itself and the inspirational tale of a boy who grew up as a troubled and learning-disabled outsider in the American South only to become a fearless artist with a profoundly original perspective to share with the world.

This product was added to our catalog on Saturday 05 November, 2011.

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