Where Lenz’s film fails is in its inability to remark upon anything in the abstract qualities of Kusama’s work beyond talking about it only in its historical importance or the most obvious interpretation.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
The New York Times by Ben Kenigsberg
Kusama — Infinity, while conventionally structured, provides ample, illuminating access to an artist’s way of thinking and working.
Slant Magazine by Diego Semerene
Despite the exuberance of the works featured, which are promptly flattened by the film's commitment to a traditional documentary blueprint, Yayoi Kusama's resilience still commands our attention.
The Hollywood Reporter by John DeFore
Kusama: Infinity presents a creative life that is worth exploring, even by those who've been scared away by the crowds.
The nut of the movie, the thing I return to again and again when thinking about it, is the issue of how much the odds were stacked against Kusama. Kusama-Infinity is a perfect movie for the #metoo era: A glimpse into the life of a woman with a vision who had the misfortune of being born at a time when even what was arguably the most progressive culture felt that it was just fine to ignore a woman’s voice.
The Globe and Mail (Toronto) by Kate Taylor
The film will make highly informative viewing both for those who get it – and for those who don’t.
Film Journal International by Lisa Jo Sagolla
Briskly paced, the film makes for a visually exuberant experience as it cuts quickly among photos and video clips of Kusama’s flashy artwork, commentary from critics, gallery owners and fellow artists (delivered both on-camera and as audio over images of Kusama’s work) and footage of the maverick artist herself.
Los Angeles Times by Robert Abele
Mostly, Lenz is committed to showing as much of Kusama’s considerable output as possible, often lovingly panned over with an admiring camera. Think an exhibition program at 24 frames a second. But Kusama – Infinity is also a genuinely felt portrait of the artist as a dedicated survivor, ever in service to her vision of the world and fighting for her place in it.
With Kusama, the older she gets, the more interesting her “story” becomes. But what makes that story connect is the art itself — dazzling, overwhelming, mesmerizing and playful. All the obsession and depression, brazenness and brass in the world wouldn’t matter if she hadn’t had the goods, all along.