Anselm

German auteur Wim Wenders’s majestic 3D portrait of compatriot, art-world luminary and friend Anselm Kiefer.

Now in his late 70s, Kiefer remains a giant of contemporary art. Working across painting and sculpture, he is renowned for his maximalism, incorporation of unconventional materials and sombre aesthetics – plus his sometimes-controversial engagement with the themes of fascism and the Holocaust. Wenders (Perfect Days, MIFF 2023) takes us into the belly of the beast, situating Kiefer’s solemn creations in the studios where they were conceived and offering insight into the artist’s inspirations, obsessions and outlook.

As with its precursor Pina, which captured choreographer Pina Bausch’s dances with awe-inspiring depth, the true star of Wenders’s latest, Cannes-premiering documentary is the art itself. Shot in stunningly rendered 3D 6K, the impasto textures and monumental scale of Kiefer’s ambitious oeuvre appear tangible, shown from sweeping vantages impossible in a gallery setting. The film also provides a glimpse into the director’s creative camaraderie with his subject, both men haunted by the horror of WWII and its ripple effects across German society.

“Not enough directors have capitalized on the ability of 3D to convey a sense of physical depth; fewer still have seized on the possibility of adding philosophical depth … A tour-de-force.” – Variety