Customer Reviews

The Definitive Dali, A Lifetime Retrospective [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This documentary is a fascinating depiction of the life of the artist and celebrity Salvador Dali. It is successful at capturing the most eccentric and endearing aspects of Dali's personality, while not leaving out some of his darker emotions as well. Each minute is enjoyable, and I found myself hungering for more as the video ended. I highly recommend this movie.

After seeing Dali's Optical Illusions exhibit at the Hirshhorn Museum in April 2000, I purchased this video and found that the quality of the editing for a 75-minute documentary was very clear, substantial and imaginative. What is consistent throughout the film is the presentation of the artist from two perspectives. The factual events such as his birth in the realm of what we consider reality and Dali's symbolic view of his birth as he pops out of a giant egg by the seashore. If you are in the field of design or art admirer, this video may inspire you.

This is a very good, very straight forward bio of the famous surrealist, with subtitles (thank goodness). While his life was fascinating, the film makers spend just as much time looking at the commercial side of Dali as well. Nicely balanced presentation, but not perfect.

This is not my favorite resource of my collection of Dali's works, but it is a good one. I enjoy the imagination the man had, and admire the painting skills he had to illustrate his visions. Nonetheless, you should read Ian Gibson's biography, "The Shameful Life of Salvador Dali" to understand the various details which make him more understandable, if not detestible. A fascinating person who didn't fail (nor hesitate) to exploit his talent and popularity at that time. The Shameful Life of Salvador Dalí