Darkness envelops the audience as they settle into their seats. A subtle sparkle of light illuminates the wall, projecting the ethereal image of a white wedding dress floating atop a hill, an enchanting motif that is repeated throughout the documentary.

Wim Wenders, the illustrious German director born in Düsseldorf in 1945, famous for cinema masterpieces such as “Paris, Texas” and “The Wings of Desire,” presented his latest release last year: the documentary “Anselm: Das Rauschen der Zeit” (“Anselm: The Rush of Time”). This cinematic odyssey explores the life and work of Anselm Kiefer meticulously, from his early days to his current artistic endeavors, imbued with the lens and lyrical delicacy that characterize Wenders' brilliant direction.

This cinematic odyssey explores the life and work of Anselm Kiefer meticulously, from his early days to his current artistic endeavors, imbued with the lens and lyrical delicacy that characterize Wenders' brilliant direction.

This documentary vividly portrays Kiefer's tireless quest for artistic expression, exploring themes as diverse as mythology and history. As a post-war German child, Kiefer grapples with the reconstruction of German identity, a theme palpable in works such as “Heroic Symbol,” where he provocatively adopts the role of a Nazi character, or “Die Deutsche Heilslinie” (“The German Lifeline”), which explores the collective memory and historical legacy of his country. In addition, creations such as “Jaipur” and “The Seven Heavenly Places” delve into the mythological world of Jewish tradition.

This documentary vividly portrays Kiefer's tireless quest for artistic expression, exploring themes as diverse as mythology and history

Anselm emerges as a titan of contemporary art, exploring an eclectic range of subjects-from landscape to memory or time-and constantly blurring the boundaries between painting and sculpture. The documentary deftly captures Kiefer's innovative process, showcasing his unwavering spirit of experimentation. We can see Anselm with a cigar in his mouth, baking the canvas or stuffing into it whatever he finds in his huge studio. Straw, pipes, nuts or even melted metals are some of the materials he uses in his huge paintings.

We can see Anselm with a cigar in his mouth, baking the canvas or stuffing into it whatever he finds in his huge studio

While the documentary cultivates Kiefer's themes and artistic process, Wim Wenders attempts to emulate these facets through his own medium: the video camera. Through evocative frames that recall Kiefer's palette, romantic landscapes that evoke the essence of his work, and a unique rhythmic cadence in the editing, Wenders engages in a profound dialogue with Kiefer's art, probing into shared themes that resonate deeply in their respective mediums. This dialogue not only celebrates the creative genius of an artist, but also delves into the quintessential themes inherent in Kiefer's art, inviting viewers to contemplate the profound complexities of human existence.

Wenders engages in a profound dialogue with Kiefer's art, probing into shared themes that resonate deeply in their respective mediums

Many of the artworks featured in the documentary are housed in Kiefer's villa-studio in France, located in La Ribaute, in the picturesque south of France. Converted into a museum by Kiefer himself, the studio offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the artist's world.