by Cookie N Screen
Museums are great, aren't they? I mean who doesn't enjoy taking a stroll around these quiet places all the whole soaking in their exhibits and artistry. As for me, I struggle the same way I agonise over books - I have a very short attention span. Actually, I am attentive but it's on many different things that I can't spare more than a few moments on each thing. Like a hungry Pac-man, I zoom through museums whilst trying to absorb as much information as possible. Cinema is easier for me as I am forced to sit down and concentrate on what's being thrown at me. But a film about a museum? More so than this, a film about a Great Museum?
Could that be any good?
Museums are great, aren't they? I mean who doesn't enjoy taking a stroll around these quiet places all the whole soaking in their exhibits and artistry. As for me, I struggle the same way I agonise over books - I have a very short attention span. Actually, I am attentive but it's on many different things that I can't spare more than a few moments on each thing. Like a hungry Pac-man, I zoom through museums whilst trying to absorb as much information as possible. Cinema is easier for me as I am forced to sit down and concentrate on what's being thrown at me. But a film about a museum? More so than this, a film about a Great Museum?
Could that be any good?
The Great Museum is a documentary from filmmaker Johannes Holzhausen which centres on Vienna's Kunsthistorisches Museum. Shot a few years ago, the film goes through the renovation of the galleries and the magnificent exhibitions that they house. Holzhausen himself comes from an art historian backgrounds and delves into the past of the elegant place as well as its new makeover.
What works in this film is the elegant beauty of the art. The imagery is haunting, lingering on different exhibitions such as Wim Wender’s, Cathedrals of Culture and more. Focusing on experts, it is clear their passion for the museum and its gorgeous collection of art is bubbling throughout the film. In this sense, the film ensares you with it’s captivating splendour of different exhibitions. From the classical to the modern, Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum is really enhanced with this wonderful film!
What works in this film is the elegant beauty of the art. The imagery is haunting, lingering on different exhibitions such as Wim Wender’s, Cathedrals of Culture and more. Focusing on experts, it is clear their passion for the museum and its gorgeous collection of art is bubbling throughout the film. In this sense, the film ensares you with it’s captivating splendour of different exhibitions. From the classical to the modern, Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum is really enhanced with this wonderful film!
Alas the film falls into many of the pitfalls that, funnily enough - museums do. It struggles with its pacing and overbears with its artistic facts. What really damages the film is its drawing speed that will only drag passionate art fans along. If your interest in paintings and exhibits hits falls often, then The Great Museum will have the same effect on you. This sleepy element as it trundles in its narrative is detrimental to people wanting to get into museums and art exhibits. Attentive to the paintings, yes. But Holzhausen struggles to be attentive to his core audience – cinema goers.
The Great Museum, however, is a wonderful excavation of art and Vienna’s rich tapestry. For exhibit moguls. And that, in itself is really intriguing. If you have an attention span larger than a gnat on coffee and you enjoyed exploring history of phenomenal works and exhibitions. Art experts will be entirely enthralled and engaged whilst you can appreciate the lavish beauty that the film provides. However, when you look from the outside in, it feels as though it relies heavily on expecting the audience to have this urgency to study art which polarises viewers. Engaging for some, boring for others, The Great Museum is a very subjective documentary that this critic unfortunately switched off throughout.
The Great Museum, however, is a wonderful excavation of art and Vienna’s rich tapestry. For exhibit moguls. And that, in itself is really intriguing. If you have an attention span larger than a gnat on coffee and you enjoyed exploring history of phenomenal works and exhibitions. Art experts will be entirely enthralled and engaged whilst you can appreciate the lavish beauty that the film provides. However, when you look from the outside in, it feels as though it relies heavily on expecting the audience to have this urgency to study art which polarises viewers. Engaging for some, boring for others, The Great Museum is a very subjective documentary that this critic unfortunately switched off throughout.
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