Personal Memoriams
In the “Personal Memoriams” secion, each evening is dedicated to a deceased figure from the world of documentary film – curated and hosted by someone with close professional or personal ties to that person. This evening’s focus is on filmmaker Frederick Wiseman, and his film CENTRAL PARK will be screened. Film curator and author Hannes Brühwiler will give an introduction.
Be sure to also read Hannes Brühwiler’s reflections on Frederick Wiseman.
CENTRAL PARK
1990 – Director: Frederick Wiseman – Original language: English – Subtitles: None – Length: 176 min.
While New Yorkers are relaxing in the sun, the sound of sirens can be heard in the distance. Switching between administrative meetings of the park authority and scenes of everyday life, the film paints a multi-layered portrait of what is perhaps the world’s most famous public park: Central Park. D.B.
Biography
Frederick Wiseman was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He initially worked as a lawyer in Paris and turned to independent documentary filmmaking in 1967. His body of work, comprising over 45 films, has been honored with the Living Legend Award (Amsterdam) and the Lifetime Achievement Award (Chicago).
His works typically focus on institutions and the interactions between individuals and their respective environments. In this context, Wiseman explores the emergence and exertion of authority, as well as various questions of resistance. His debut film, TITICUT FOLLIES from 1967, documented the shocking conditions at the Bridgewater Institution, where offenders with mental illnesses were forced to live. After that, Wiseman shot a new film almost every year. The director deliberately avoided voice-over narration and explanatory interviews.
English/Original Title: CENTRAL PARK. Production: Zipporah Films. Producer: Zipporah Films.
