Frederick Wiseman 1930-2026

96 years. Thank you for living that long! Thank you for giving us that many films about “the other America”. Thank you for being an immense inspiration for filmmakers all over the world. You appear many times on this site so this short farewell text will include quotes from some of them.

I owe a lot to Suzette Glenadel, who was the charismatic director of Cinéma du Réel in Paris in the 80’es. She was the one who introduced the films of Wiseman to me, when I visited the festival year after year. He was always there at the screenings and this love to France and French culture came through in “Crazy Horse”, “La Comédie Francaise” and “Menus-Plaisirs Les Troisgros”, (PHOTO) 4 hours of “uhmm” from a Michelin restaurant. “Welfare”, “Hospital”, “High School”, “National Gallery”, “Domestic Violence”, “Basic Training”, “Ex Libris: The New York Public Library”, I love them all and many more… About the latter Manohia Dargis wrote in NY Times: ““In his magnificent new documentary “Ex Libris: The New York Public Library,” Frederick Wiseman takes his camera into those halls as well as into more humble city branches. He sweeps into atriums and down corridors, pauses in reading and meeting rooms, and lays bare this complex, glorious organism that is the democratic ideal incarnate.” As educated librarian this is what I felt as well, when I saw it.

And this is from a post https://filmkommentaren.dk/frederick-wiseman-11-doc-lessons/, Wiseman being interviewed at Hot Docs by CBC journalist Piya Chattopadhyay in 2015:

1. A good idea can come anytime, anyplace.

2. In Jackson Heights is about the “new face of America.” (In Jackson Heights is a new film project that Wiseman pitched at the Hot Docs).

3. Wiseman gets permission by asking for it.

4. Raising money is the most “demeaning” part of making a movie. 5. His shoots generally last four to six weeks.

6. Half of documentary filmmaking has nothing to do with filmmaking.

7. The filmmaker’s point of view exists between literal and abstract levels.

8. He never does research.

9. He never cuts a film to meet the needs of a broadcaster.

10. Self-distributing his films on DVDs has been successful.

11. The key to longevity in film is a good producer.

Wise words from a wise man, Wiseman, RIP

PS: I wanted to have a photo of Wiseman but am afraid of copyright – can´t afford buying rights. Instead the photo from the French restaurant film from the Zipporah webpage. Also please read what is written on their website: https://zipporahfilms.com THIS IS WHERE CONDOLENCES CAN BE SENT TO.