Hannes Brühwiler’s words in memory of Frederick Wiseman

Year after year, Wiseman’s films have led the film curator and writer Hannes Brühwiler to reflect on the state of modern society. These are some words in memory of the filmmaker and his work. 

“There is probably no other filmmaker who has stayed with me and engaged me as much as Frederick Wiseman has. Between 1967 and 2023, he made over 40 films - a new one every one or two years. This astonishing rhythm of production is a miracle in and of itself. Yet this regularity also means that his films, which Wiseman often described as “voyages of discovery,” have, year after year, invited me to reflect on the state of modern society. If extraterrestrial beings were ever to visit earth, a filmmaker friend once wrote, you would only need to show them Wiseman’s films for them to understand western society in the 20 th and early 21 st centuries. It’s a lovely idea. To single out one film from this great body of work is almost impossible. Because when I look back at Wiseman’s achievements, are we not faced essentially with one single extremely long film? In this epic body of work, New York stands out. He shot nine films in this city, more than in any other place. What I always find impressive about Central Park is its cinematic openness. We encounter athletes, tourists, homeless people and hobby ornithologists. There are concerts, film shoots and flea markets and, of course, there is always the administrative work, in which conflicts between the public sector and private investment are revealed. This gives rise to dozens of stories, both small and big, which Wiseman brilliantly weaves together. The biggest artistic achievement - not only of this film but of the work as a whole - is that no particular perspective is forced on us as viewers and that each of his films is an invitation to discover.” 

In remembrance of Frederick Wiseman, his documentary CENTRAL PARK will be screened at Filmmuseum during 41 st DOK.fest München on 10 May 2026 at 6pm as part of our memoriam section “Personal Memoriams – A look back at great filmmakers”. Hannes Brühwiler will be present at the screening.