Anselm

Following the success of his mesmerizing doc Pina, Wim Wenders once again delves into an artist’s creative process, this time with his contemporary and compatriot, sculptor and painter Anselm Kiefer. Thus, instead of dance performances, we get giant installations created by a rebellious and controversial artist. Kiefer transcends the canvas by incorporating found objects—metal fragments, clumps of earth, and pieces of cloth—into monumental art forever haunted by the ghosts of Germany’s ruinous past. The camera is always in motion, traversing the massive hangars and the planes of the frame, penetrating the texture of each artwork, immersing us in it, sending currents of awe through our bodies and minds, and leaving us with the unshakeable knowledge that this is how Kiefer’s art is meant to be experienced. In the words of some excited film critics, Anselm is a gift for art lovers.