Customer Reviews

Paul Klee: The Silence of the Angel

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

 

 

Rarely does one come across a biographical film of an artist with such a beautiful melding of music (piano), color (the paintings) and narrative (historical photographs, films and voice overlay). Gaumnitz's film shows Paul Klee's etchings and paintings in a biographical context with references to his musical and writing talents, his marriage and fatherhood, as well as his friendships, his professorial roles and the effect of Hitler's Germany on him and his work. Gaumnitz shows the influence of Klee's travels to Tunisia and Italy on his use of color and on the subject matter of his paintings. A wonderful segment illustrates a lesson from one of Klee's Bauhaus lectures seeking to achieve the illusion of movement through the use of a circle and a line. Klee's interests in physics and nature and his very accomplished musicianship helped shape his work as a painter. While Klee's work has always held a special appeal for me, Gaumnitz's film helped explain Klee's work and has made it even more interesting. This film is highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Paul Klee and his work.

A soulful, utterly absorbing look at the world of Paul Klee. Not only does the film not shy from Klee's interior life, it revels in revealing it - through his paintings, journals, writings, drawings. Even Klee's extensive cataloguing habits are examined with love. I agree with another reviewer there has been no film like this made about an artist before. It's devastatingly fine, beautifully made. The film's riveting cohesion openly resembles Klee's paintings - Michael Gaumnitz's understanding of Klee's work is huge, and the rituals with which he attends his subject are profound. Presentation of the art is wondrously crafted. Every frame is a joy to watch and pulls the viewer deeper and deeper into the heart of Klee's own wonder. It's a remarkable experience indeed. To understand Klee, indeed to love him, is to see this perfectly revealing film. A hundred stars!

This DVD is for fans of Paul Klee. Ever since I saw a small watercolor of his at the MFA in Boston, I have been obsessed with this artist for his draftsmanship and ability to relate art and music. This DVD provides a great background to how the artist developed his methods of production and is a treat to those of us who are really entranced by his work.