Rating: B+
Florence and the Uffizi Gallery is my entire art history course for this semester. But try not to let that put you off. In a tiny cinema this simple documentary swept me out of my seat into another country, for a high quality tour of Italian Renaissance art. Directed by Luca Viotto (whom I have not heard much about but seems competent enough), the film is a swift and transporting multidimensional trip that hits on all the greats. From architecture (my favourite line that I remember: “I call architecture frozen music”), to sculpture, to painting, we are guided from the streets of Florence into the Uffizi gallery to meet Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, Botticelli, and many more masters.
The presentation of the art is refreshing, as the modern music and cinematography merges with the classic. The images are incredible and daunting—all pieces are shown up close in fine detail that all art lovers will gag over. But don’t worry if you are not coo-coo for art history - while it is a little hard to keep track of the facts, it’s easy enough to just sit back and soak up the lavish colour and satisfying pictures.
I would urge anyone to check this film out, simply because it is healthy to learn and vital to know of the past, particularly the history of great art (may I please quote Robin?) Screw it I’m gonna quote Robin Williams: “medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”
I have always been a lover of artistic documentaries (nothing will ever beat Simon Schama’s Power of Art). Most can be overly pretentious or too small budget for the masses, however this flick does its job well. One thing I did find slightly irritating was the acting of one Simon Merrells (Spartacus). He wasn’t horrible. But he wasn’t great either. The only drag to the film I can think of. I would have loved to see it in 3D, so if you go, go all out. This was 95 minutes of what I imagine to be the equivalent of a rich, rich wine, fit for the pope.