Focus on Frederick Wiseman

Vale, Frederick Wiseman. Join us in the cinema as we celebrate the 62-year career of one of the great observers of modern life.

When Frederick Wiseman passed away earlier this year, he left behind 48 films as director. As a documentarian, he rejected the idea of “truth” in cinema, acknowledging that each creative choice he made was a step further away. He referred to his films as "reality fictions”, but upon reflection, they seem like the truest that cinema has ever been.

Renowned for focusing on institutions – many are public institutions, most are American – Wiseman’s films examine the building blocks of Western society, often breaking them down into their smaller parts and putting them back together again. His films help us understand the society we live in. He also used the same techniques to build a richer understanding of private companies, arts institutions and even neighbourhoods.

Throughout spring, we will present a selection of Frederick Wiseman’s films focusing on public institutions over time. From the Kansas City Police Department in 1969’s Law and Order to 2020’s City Hall. Like Wiseman’s oeuvre, these films tell us about ourselves and the world we live in, but over time – as we’ve seen with his earlier films – they take on more meaning as markers of our world, immortalising a world that was.

Join us as we celebrate Frederick Wiseman, the master of the observational documentary, the "reality fiction", and his unique vision of cinema.

Reece Goodwin, Senior Programmer (Film & Screen Industry)