I
suppose, technically, you’d call this a documentary, but it’s unlike any
documentary I’ve ever seen. Sumptuous,
artful, and evocative, this TV film is first and foremost a sensory
experience. In a way, it’s probably the
most fitting means of exploring a man like Leonardo da Vinci.
Apart from
a handful of informative lines printed across the screen (stringing together
the major events and details of da Vinci’s life,) every word in this program
comes da Vinci’s journals and writings.
There are very few trappings of a traditional bio-documentary – shots of
particular paintings or sketches (including some roughly-animated recreations) and
not much else. The camera instead films
sights, people, and locales that punctuate da Vinci’s words: majestic waterfalls, proportional human
faces, the frosting-coated spires of La Scala, a falconer at work.
As with
“Who’s Afraid of Machiavelli?” PC performs da Vinci’s writings. Once again, he’s not made to look specifically
in character, although one might argue that he’s dressed in the spirit of da
Vinci, if not accurately. While some of his
lines are delivered through voiceover, many sequences are direct shots of PC
giving monologues in what is presumably meant to be da Vinci’s studio.
PC’s
involvement here is far more “actorly” than his work in “Who’s Afraid of
Machiavelli?” He captures da Vinci’s
thirst for knowledge, his probing intelligence, and his almost frenzied drive
to create a legacy for himself. The
excerpts he performs touch on a stunning array of topics. Da Vinci’s thoughts on art, nature, love,
lust, war, integrity, invention. His
careful plans and calculations. His
endless questions. His pain at the loss
of his father, at the aspersions cast on his sexuality. Even his shopping lists. PC brings da Vinci to life with his performance,
doing some really stunning work all around.
It’s a
great program, truly beautiful. The
music is highly effective and the visuals are gorgeous. I’m reminded of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly or the lovely, plot-less
interludes in The Tree of Life. Dare I even invoke the name of Wong
Kar-wai? Not so much about learning the facts of da Vinci, but very much about
endeavoring to understand and empathize with da Vinci.
Accent Watch
Scottish.
Recommend?
In
General
– I would. Eye-catching, wonderfully
sensory, and fascinating. Very
one-of-a-kind, much like Da Vinci.
PC-wise – Yep. PC is fantastic here.
Warnings
Some
sexual discussion (but Renaissance-era, so not exactly graphic) and talk of war.
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