Anselm

"The sound of time."

2023 1h 33m DE

👍

6.6

SOLID

★6.6TMDB · 52

Documentary

Synopsis

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This unique cinematic experience dives deep into an artist’s work and reveals his life path, inspiration, and creative process. It explores his fascination with myth and history. Past and present are interwoven to diffuse the line between film and painting, allowing the audience to be completely immersed in the remarkable world of one of the greatest contemporary artists, Anselm Kiefer. Wim Wenders shot this unique portrait over the course of two years in stunning 3D.

“The sound of time.”

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Cast

Anselm Kiefer
Anselm
Anton Wenders
Anselm (Boy)
Daniel Kiefer
Anselm (Young)
Ingeborg Bachmann
Self (archive footage)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Wim Wenders
Writers: Wim Wenders
Languages: German, English
Countries: Germany

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 3 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: German, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Wim Wenders, shot by Franz Lustig. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Leonard Küßner. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Maxine Goedicke shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Anselm Kiefer and Anton Wenders and Daniel Kiefer carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The sound of time.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Wim Wenders directs. Franz Lustig behind the camera. Leonard Küßner scores. Maxine Goedicke cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Germany. Dialogue in German, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 3 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: German, English.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Wim Wenders, shot by Franz Lustig. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Leonard Küßner. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Maxine Goedicke shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Anselm Kiefer and Anton Wenders and Daniel Kiefer carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "The sound of time.".
9IMDB entry: tt27502250 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 52 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Franz Lustig
Original score: Leonard Küßner
Editing: Maxine Goedicke
Production design: Sebastian Soukup
VFX supervisor: Kalle Max Hofmann
Sound: Ansgar Frerich
Runtime: 93 min · 1h 33m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Box office: $1,831,448
Original language: DE
IMDB: Anselm (2023)

Also by

Wim Wenders

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Brent Marchant2024-02-04
★ 7/10
Imagine having the vision – and the means – to build your own little world, one that reflects your philosophical, artistic and personal sensibilities. If you’re German multi-media artist Anselm Kiefer, it’s not only entirely possible, but also an undertaking that feels as though it’s been compelled into existence, as seen in this poetic new documentary from filmmaker Wim Wenders. This inventive, intimate look into the life, work and beliefs of this artistic icon examines how his upbringing and major influences shaped the person Kiefer ultimately became, one of the most prolific, diverse and challenging creatives of the 20th Century. Through interviews with the artist, archive and contemporary footage of his work, and interpretive reenactments of Kiefer as an eminently curious youth and as a bold innovator as a young adult, viewers witness how he emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the art world in the nature, content and messages of his creations. The film explores his mythological, metaphysical and philosophical insights, along with his relentless passion for artistically depicting Germany’s role in World War II, an effort that many of his fellow countrymen found off-putting but that he insisted must not be forgotten or ignored, despite widespread public opinion to the contrary. Then there’s the establishment of his Gesamtkunstwerk – or “universal artwork” – at his 35-hectare compound community in Barjac, France, an attempt at manifesting a work of art incorporating as many different types of creations as possible, truly a world unto itself. All of this is accomplished through a narrative that’s more thematically driven than one providing a rote laundry list of accomplishments. Because of this, viewers unfamiliar with Kiefer’s work, history and influences may find the film somewhat difficult to follow at times, but that’s more than compensated for by Wenders’ stunning cinematography, especially its brilliant employment of 3-D technology, a practice virtually unheard of in documentary work. Given the unconventional nature of “Anselm,” the picture clearly won’t appeal to everyone, including those enamored with documentaries. However, for those seeking something different, inspiring and beautiful to look at, this one is made for you.

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