Showing posts with label documentary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label documentary. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Pompei: Below the Clouds, The Intricate Universe of Naples

By José Alberto Hermosillo


AFI FEST REVIEW: “Pompei: Below the Clouds” is a remarkable achievement in filmmaking, complex and poetic.


Gianfranco Rosi’s acclaimed documentary skillfully weaves together the narratives of archaeologists, law enforcement, young students, a retired teacher doing homework in an old bookstore, an underground preservationist, black-market traffickers, and the engaged community of Naples, Italy.

 

According to Mr. Rosi, “Naples is a complex city that reflects on what it is, what it was, and what it will be.” 


People usually go about their daily lives— but when a chance becomes a necessity and a tremor strikes from nearby Vesuvius or the active Capri Flegrei volcanoes, the emergency services, police and fire department work together to meet the community’s emotional needs and bring calm, whether by phone or in person, by addressing people’s anxiety as humanely as possible. When people feel the need to connect out of fear, it is always precarious.


In the Neapolitan universe, the centuries-old ancient city of Pompei plays an important role in the lives of residents in the area. The greed of the Gomorra mafia, which controls the town’s economy, allows it to steal priceless Roman sculptures and break them into dozens of pieces that are hard to restore and easy to smuggle out of the country.


As this exquisite and somber black-and-white multilinear story unfolds, locals, tourists, educators in a bookshop helping kids with homework, worshippers, Japanese archaeologists, and students meticulously excavating in the fields resurface statues, fragments, and ruins. Then, Ukrainian and Syrian sailors delivering grain in enormous barrels create a moment of trust, something close to Babel’s tower, in analytical thinking.


The volcano destroyed the city of Pompei, yet it also preserved part of its history underground, where archaeologists and bandits work to bring the remains to the surface in their own ways. For example, one with science, the others do so recklessly.


The award-winning documentary was part of the Official Selection at the Venice Film Festival, La Biennale 2025, where it earned the Environmentalist Award and a special mention for Mr. Rosi for the Treatment of Issues Related to the Social Environment. 


Gianfranco Rosi. Photo by José Alberto Hermosillo, FestivalinLA

At the AFI FEST 2025 Q&A, the accomplished Gianfranco Rosi (“In Viaggio: The Travels of Pope Francis,” “Notturno,” “Fire at Sea”) explains that he often begins filming without knowing where the story will take him - the narrative unfolds from the locations, the people, and all the other possible scenarios.

 

He chose a monochromatic palette to enhance the narrative’s poetic quality, an element that seamlessly bridges the present and the past in a timeless documentary.

 

Rosi’s filmmaking style is observational and poetically presents reality, often described as cinéma vérité. The problem is that Rosi does not believe in the genre in which everyone performs on camera. Gianfranco Rosi believes that cinéma vérité is “a manipulation of reality shown to the viewer,” and he does not want to be contaminated by those ideas, labeled, or boxed. This is completely fair for an experienced filmmaker at his level who does everything himself, giving him full control over his work and, above all, freedom of expression that every artist struggles to find.

 

There is an old movie theater that is falling apart, located near the ancient port of Pompei, a few kilometers from Naples, beneath the volcano. The owners let him use the theater for his project. There, he found clips which he projected onto the big screen. For him, film is also an archaeological find, evoking memories of the many movies made in the city and metaphorically linked to ancient Pompeii.


While attending NYU Film School, Gianfranco initiated a project focused on retirees in Miami. During that period, a colleague suggested creating a documentary in Naples. Following that advice, he spent three years producing “Below the Clouds” in that Italian region.


Born in Asmara, Eritrea, to Italian parents, he lived in Turkey and Italy before attending college in the United States. In the field, Gianfranco Rosi operates autonomously, occasionally collaborating with an assistant to form a formidable team.

 

The work he does with his editor, the consultant, and the producer is incredible. It is a metaphorical transformation of reality that elevates “Pompei: Below the Clouds” to a heightened sense of universality.

 

In most of his films, he follows five to six storylines. In his latest project set in the Port of Napoli, he has 10 shorts intertwined, raising the complexity of “Below the Clouds” to a higher standard of difficulty and, at the same time, creativity.

 

The Italian documentary is comparable to a musical score, with elements of silence. Find the right moment to leave everything in suspense and then cut, like the combinations of the Rubik’s Cube. He likes to leave everything open to interpretation for the audience.

 

The collaboration with Academy Award-winning composer Daniel Blumberg (“Brutalists” and “The Testament of Ann Lee”) was close and productive. They worked together for two weeks in his London studio, recording with the saxophone and other instruments that gave his work an atmospheric touch of nostalgia and melancholy.


The only thing Gianfranco believes is on the frame and the person, cinematically speaking. For someone watching the documentary, it will feel like floating, with compelling camerawork and fantastic music, suspended in time and immersed in the Neapolitan community that preserves its past and its modern-day existence.

 

Gianfranco Rosi & critic José Alberto Hermosillo, FestivalinLA

POMPEI: BELOW THE CLOUDS/OFFICIAL TRAILER:


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Friday, May 31, 2024

Jim Henson: Idea Man, The Life of the Genius Behind The Muppet Show

 By José Alberto Hermosillo


“Jim Henson: Idea Man,” from Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard, offers a fresh look at the life and work of the genius behind “The Muppet Show,” Jim Henson. The documentary is awe-inspiring, pure entertainment, and quite enjoyable.

Ron Haward. Photo: José Alberto Hermosillo ©2024 FestivalinLA
 

In “Jim Henson: Idea Man,” award-winning director Ron Howard (“A Beautiful Mind,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “Thirteen Lives”) presents a linear, structured narrative that focuses primarily on the work of the Muppets creator rather than his personal life. 


People who adored the show may consider it a treasure. However, this sentiment may not apply to hardcore fans, who argue that crucial information is missing, including Jim’s cause of death—a bacterial infection at age 53. Despite being a Disney+ movie, this documentary cannot be compared to Pixar’s “Coco,” a profound animated film that explores the other side: death. 


The main reason Ron Howard handled the material lightly in the documentary about Jim Henson was to keep it hopeful rather than sentimental. Howard felt he was offering real insight into the life of the creator of the puppets for “Sesame Street.” He saw the paradox between his material and Henson’s experimental films, which were very optimistic, human, and revealing.


After years of struggle, the young puppeteer, with a strong desire to work in television, made his first successful attempt in the summer of 1969 by introducing his Muppet characters who interacted with humans on “Sesame Street.” 


Time magazine featured Big Bird in 1970. Cover credit: Bill Pierce.

A year later, Time magazine featured Big Bird on the cover with the quote: “… It’s not only the best children’s TV show in history, but it is also one of the best parents’ shows as well.”

 

After the success of Sesame Street, Henson could not find producers to bring The Muppet Show to life in the United States. The production then took a more international approach when Sir Lew Grade, the owner of the British ATV Starion, produced two specials with him: “Julie on Sesame Street” and “Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass.”


Sir Grade was familiar with puppet television programs and offered Henson a deal to record “The Muppet Show” at the Elstree Studios in England. The deal also included an international broadcasting contract covering more than 100 countries to air the show.


Before departing for the U.K., Henson set aside his syndication and other union contracts with the Writers’ Guild and began production in London as soon as possible.


During the show’s taping, the producers booked major Hollywood stars, including Diana Ross, Henry Belafonte, and Tina Turner, to appear as special guests on “The Muppet Show.”


Aired on Sundays, “The Muppet Show” was a huge hit. During the last three months of 1976, it was viewed by 14 million people in Great Britain.

 

Before making the documentary, the Henson family was reluctant to have the creative patriarch’s image and private life go public for numerous reasons. While reviewing the archive, Ron Howard saw different options for approaching his newest adventure. He focused on the entire family behind the creator and, of course, on the unforgettable characters.

Howard unfolds a biographical story featuring fabulous archival clips, treasured interviews, glorious behind-the-scenes footage, and staggering, boundless graphic material that will keep us wondering more about the conception and embodiment of those dear, unforgettable characters and the creator himself. Disney Plus and a dozen other producers, including members of the Henson family and the estate’s heirs, produced the new documentary.


The music, produced by Hans Zimmer and composed by David Fleming (Blue Planet), is driven by playfulness and joy. Fleming adjusted to the time compression and moved through emotions about ambition, creativity, a higher spirit, and Henson’s joyful place. Fleming focused on the characters’ diversity and the universality of the inspiring creations.


“Jim Herson: Idea Man” Panel. Photo: José Alberto Hermosillo ©2024 FestivalinLA

In the documentary, the evolution of Henson’s story resonates with our memories of “The Muppet Show” and our childhood experiences, as we identified with Jim and his diverse characters.

 

The editor cleaned up the Henson family interviews using AI (Artificial Intelligence), giving the linear structure a distinctive flow. Those recordings were demanding and energizing for everyone, including the animation crew. According to a panel presented by Deadline at Vidiots in Eagle Rock, California, everyone who participated in Henson’s documentary wanted to make it right.


Jim Henson and his Muppet characters. 

The documentary was made to keep Jim’s voice active in a preserved form and to document the evolution of Mr. Henson from his participation in “Sesame Street” to “The Muppets Show” and subsequently to the feature films produced by the Jim Henson Company.


The interviews recalled experiences working with Academy Award winners Jennifer Connelly and Rita Moreno, which are essential for audiences to sympathize with the main character and his creations. Late in the game, the producers of “Idea Man” continued to find more material regarding Henson’s work.


Ron Howard continues to find subjects with stories that truly matter, and it is fascinating to discover, in this case, Jim’s early work. This documentary is about Henson’s journey and the challenges he faced as he risked everything he had to deliver one of the most transcendent shows in history for the entire family.


I applaud Howard’s team’s courage and tenacity in bringing to light the work and creations of the “Idea Man,” who, by creating one of the most influential TV shows, helped millions of children and parents learn, accept, and make this world a better place to live in.


Vidiots screening, Eagle Rock, California. Photo: José Alberto Hermosillo ©2024 FestivalinLA

Jim Henson Idea Man | Official Trailer | Disney+


Vidiots’ Jim Henson movies on DVD display. Photo: José Alberto Hermosillo ©2024 FestivalinLA

Brian Henson, producer & studio executive, son of The Muppets creator, Jim Henson.
Brian Henson, producer & studio executive, son of The Muppets creator Jim Henson & José Alberto Hermosillo, critic at www.festivalinLA.com
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Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Smoke Sauna Sisterhood: Estonian Women Bonding Together

 By José Alberto Hermosillo 


“Smoke Sauna Sisterhood” is a stunning and powerful documentary, insightful and poetic. It reflects on women and other transcendental topics affecting their womanhood. 

Deep in the woods, where the rivers and clear waters converge, naked women talk about a wide variety of topics inside the smoky sauna. The foggy filters accentuated the light and distorted the images. Many women are photographed through shadows. Others are faceless or in close-ups to create a deeper connection with the audience. Their nudity makes us feel their vulnerability, but their voices and body language generate the image of strong women and stoicism.
 
The women continued discussing women’s issues – including motherhood, life, and death. Their period, losing their virginity, wearing loose pants, or giving birth to a girl, and feeling guilty for that simple fact of having a baby girl, not a boy, when, in reality, it should be considered a blessing.


Pregnancy and childbirth are other essential subjects narrated vividly and painfully.
 
Their intimate conversations continue involving involuntary abortion and the guilty feelings that follow those dramatic experiences. They even voice out their mother’s abortion freely, making it hard for the viewer to be judgmental.

Others talk about their relationship with their grandmothers, who participated in the war. They recalled how mentally challenging their lives have become since then and how they and their grandchildren inherited that traumatic experience.
 
When the bath is filled with herbs, things turn mystical, mainly because those herbs are used to clean the body and soul and to help chase away evil spirits.

 
“Smoke Sauna Sisterhood” is an honest depiction of women in their most vulnerable moments, with all the variations in between, expressing how they navigate their relationships with other women, cope with men and prevail stoically across generations.


The story unfolds linearly, tribally, and cathartically – as the women emerge from the sauna, liberated, and submerge into the waters of the quiet river – prompting us to consider their transition from a heavenly moment of intimacy with other women to a connection with nature.
 
“Smoke Sauna Sisterhood” is neither religious nor whimsical, and the women’s stories do not pursue a political agenda or wave the feminist flag that men disapprove of. On the contrary, it can be used as a tool for men to learn about women’s experiences through life and how women feel internally.

The documentary is Estonia’s Official Entry for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards. It won the Director’s Award at the World Cinema Documentary competition at Sundance 2023, Best Documentary at the Golden Gate Awards, and Best Film at the Sophia Documentary Fest in Bulgaria. 

Smoke saunas became an essential Vana-Vōromaa (Southeast Estonia) tradition, and it is now part of UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

I was skeptical about watching a project that includes in the title the word sisterhood, a total turn-off for men, and being prejudiced without knowing the importance of learning how women think and act when they are among other women. I ate my humble pie and recognized the excellence in filmmaking and how well-made it is because, believe me, “Smoke Sauna Sisterhood” by first-time director Anna Hints is the best documentary of the year.


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Sunday, November 5, 2023

Anselm: The Most Transcendental Artist of Our Time in 3D

  By José Alberto Hermosillo 


“Anselm” is a luminous and poetic documentary about the monumental work of the German iconoclast Anselm Kiefer.


Directed by award-winning filmmaker Wim Wenders (“Wings of Desire,” “Faraway, So Close,” “Paris, Texas,” “Pina 3D,” “The Salt of Earth,” and most recently “Perfect Days” in Japan), the documentary, titled in German “Anselm – Das Rauschen der Zeit,” offers a deep understanding of Kiefer’s oeuvre, focusing not on his personal life but on his body of work. The documentary adds 3D and 6K resolution, lending Kiefer’s art an immersive, fascinating luster. 

 

As the story unfolds, watching him work passionately and intensely in his considerable studio in the Renaissance town of Barjac, in southern France, is a delight for all the senses.



The German artist is one of the most important exponents of Neo-expressionism. Many consider him a humanist for reflecting an essential part of the human condition in his work. The nonconventional visionary artist works with all the elements he can find in his surroundings. 


He likes to expand beyond the frame to create his vast masterpieces. The mixed media on canvas he uses is only a tiny part of his architectural interiors and immense landscapes.


For one of his series, he burns an enormous amount of dry grass on a wall. He adds paint, plaster, concrete, and molded metal – giving the canvas a unique structure, shape, color, texture, depth, and smell. 


Anselm Kiefer’s artwork transmits a sense of universality and infinite freedom to the spectator.


Anselm Kiefer was born in the Black Forest, in the southern town of Donaueschingen, Germany, in 1945, just at the end of WWII. His influences are the Norse legend, Wagnerian Opera, and Germany’s Nationalistic identity, including the Nazi shameful period he brought to the center of the conversation.
 
The extraordinary footage of the film includes still photographs from when he was thirty, making him seem different back then. Anselm Kiefer was a provocateur doing a photography series traveling around the world dressed in his father’s Wehrmacht uniform (German Armed Forces), displaying the Nazi salute during the 1968-1969 period.
 
He started as a bold artist who worked on the borderline between conventional and controversial presentations of his creations, ideologically speaking.
 
In contrast, he vividly paints the other side of history evenly by exposing the gas chambers of the concentration camps during the Holocaust. Other essential works also address the Jewish community’s exodus to Israel, as reflected in the exhibits. From one particular point of view, he cannot deny the obscure past of his heritage. Nevertheless, we can find healing and reconciliation through his magnificent art.

In some of his pieces, he compares mushrooms with cancer cells, and we can see how those fungi expand rapidly in the woods, as cancer does in the human body.


The indelible reality of Kiefer’s work comes in the series titled “Memory,” which I find reflects similar sentiments in the creation of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. Still, at a large scale, where what people see is not exactly what the piece represents, it is essential to know Kiefer’s work because it is transcendent for the ages.
 
Some people accused him of being fascist, but Mr. Kiefer cannot control people’s reactions to his creations. He can not be standing in front of every piece telling viewers, “I am antifascist,” to defend himself. Nowadays, it is still not clear what he was before, but certainly, he is not a Neo-Nazi.

Anselm Kiefer has exhibited those gigantic pieces in Venice, Bilbao, Hamburg, Tel Aviv, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, to mention a few cities where his work has been acclaimed.

The nonintrusive cinematography was done by Wenders’ frequent D.P. collaborator Franz Lustig (“Aftermath,” “Perfect Days,” “Don’t Come Knocking”). 

The arresting visuals surrounding Kiefer’s work create a mystical atmosphere, prompting spectators to continue wondering about his creations and his personal life in a more intimate setting. Still, that story is yet to come, likely in a French or Hollywood biopic. For now, we must be content with this astonishing documentary.
 
The purpose of art and cinema, in particular, is to open up the discussion about the life and work of a controversial artist and to make audiences aware of the existence of such an essential and celebrated talent as Anselm Kiefer.

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