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France, United States, United Kingdom · 2014
3h 0m
Director Frederick Wiseman
Starring Leanne Benjamin, Kausikan Rajeshkumar, Jo Shapcott, Edward Watson
Genre Documentary
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This documentary provides an in-depth look at the day-to-day operations of the National Gallery, a museum in London inhabited by thousands of Western art pieces from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. It explores — and explains — the important roles of employees, curators, conservators, and even visitors.
The ultimate value of the famed filmmaker’s latest documentary—a subject National Gallery turns into a reflexive concern—is not that Wiseman makes it possible for a broader audience to see these priceless works of art, but that the scope of his project invites all audiences to look at them through an illuminating new lens.
In his signature style, without talking heads, narration or explanatory context, Wiseman takes us straight into the London gallery itself and the inhabitants inside - both human and paint-form.
Slant Magazine by James Lattimer
In the style of an ambling, yet entirely focused visitor, the film continually circles back to pictures, protagonists, and situations to furnish them with new meanings, alter their perception, or even directly challenge their previous presentation.
The effect of National Gallery is to reinforce the notion that paintings are objects to know and understand.
The Hollywood Reporter by Jordan Mintzer
National Gallery feels closer to a pure aesthetic investigation than an organizational exposé, and in that respect is reminiscent of recent Paris-set films like Crazy Horse or La Danse, mostly allowing the art to speak for itself.
The New York Times by Manohla Dargis
Like most of Mr. Wiseman’s work, the movie is at once specific and general, fascinating in its pinpoint detail and transporting in its cosmic reach.
The A.V. Club by Mike D'Angelo
Unlike Wiseman’s greatest films, National Gallery never quite finds an overarching theme. There’s a fair amount of material regarding the art/commerce divide, but many scenes have no bearing whatsoever on that subject, and the film generally lacks urgency.
Like so much of his celebrated work, documentarian Frederick Wiseman's National Gallery is long, leisurely paced, wide-ranging, meticulously crafted, intellectually intricate, and touched with profundity.
The Playlist by Oliver Lyttelton
Wiseman's film is the most nourishing example of cinematic brain food you'll have all year.
It’s beautifully organised, and there’s no way you could possibly watch it without learning all kinds of stuff.
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