NZIFF Film Review: "Anselm 3D" (2023).

"Anselm Kiefer in a film by Wim Wenders." This is Anselm 3D. This German documentary film directed by Wim Wenders. This unique cinematic experience dives deep into an artist’s work and reveals his life path, inspiration, and creative process. It explores his fascination with myth and history. Past and present are interwoven to diffuse the line between film and painting, allowing the audience to be completely immersed in the remarkable world of one of the greatest contemporary artists, Anselm Kiefer. Wim Wenders shot this unique portrait over the course of two years in stunning 3D.

Born on March 8, 1945, German painter and sculptor, Anselm Kiefer, was born. At the end of the 1960s, he studied with Peter Dreher and Horst Antes. His works incorporate materials such as straw, ash, clay, lead, and shellac. The poems of Paul Celan have played a role in developing Kiefer's themes of German history and the horrors of the Holocaust, as have the spiritual concepts of Kabbalah. In his entire body of work, Kiefer argues with the past and addresses taboo and controversial issues from recent history. Themes from Nazi rule are particularly reflected in his work; for instance, the painting Margarethe (oil and straw on canvas) was inspired by Celan's well-known poem "Todesfuge" ("Death Fugue"). His works are characterised by an unflinching willingness to confront his culture's dark past, and unrealised potential, in works that are often done on a large, confrontational scale well suited to the subjects. It is also characteristic of his work to find signatures and names of people of historical importance, legendary figures or historical places. All of these are encoded sigils through which Kiefer seeks to process the past; this has resulted in his work being linked with the movements New Symbolism and Neo–Expressionism. Since 1992, Kiefer has lived and worked in France. Since 2008, he has lived and worked primarily in Paris. In 2018, he was awarded Austrian citizenship.

Instead of being handed facts that could be more readily imparted by a literary biography, we are immersed in Kiefer's startling art works and invited to examine his philosophy and work methods. Flawed as the film may be, it is still a celebration of the art through the spiritual presence of Kiefer, one of the great artists of the twentieth century. The film is a celebration of what it is to inspire greatness, a passionate work of life, love and inspiration that transcends its central figure to become something as timeless, and as hopeful, as the innovative and remarkable man who inspired it. A remarkable -- and likely enduring -- tribute to an artist committed to creating art drawn from humanity's deepest physical and emotional reserves. Bring someone who doubts that movies can surprise us anymore. Bring somebody who isn't yet excited about stereoscopic cinema. They'll change their minds. The 3-D is so subtle, unobtrusive and low-key that at times I felt like I was watching the movie through a View-Master rather than the requisite plastic glasses. That's not meant as a knock.

Simon says Anselm 3D receives:

Also, see my reviews for Perfect Days and My Name is Alfred Hitchcock.