If you are interested also in Fashion, Graphic Design, Typography, Origami, Films and influential people in the design field, check out Design Documentary I: DESIGN & GRAPHICs, Design Documentary V: DESIGN & GRAPHICs and Design Documentary II: FASHION.

Frank Lloyd Wright [1998]

Documentary focusing on the most influential architect of his generation is illustrating and discussing turbulent life full of innovative building designs. A fascinating story of ambition, lies, adultry, arogance, a brutal family tragedy, free spirit, beautifully angled shots of Wright’s best structures and Beethoven music, since Wright thought musical composition had affinities with architecture. Fascinating man = fascinating documentary.
I haven`t found any trailer, but below is an interview with the director, which includes parts of the documentary.

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Sketches of Frank Gehry [2005]

A man that is never satisfied by his own work. Ghery is engaged in dialogue with Sydney Pollack about his ever-evolving philosophies on art, personal life, approach to work, recalling early influences & experiences, creative process of his work mapped by sketches & models. But his creative productions remains mystery (how the ideas are turned into real buildings and laws of physics, budget restraints, zoning codes, etc. are applied). However, it still gives an idea of Ghery`s evolution as an innovator and story of sculptor’s sensibility.

My Architect : Son`s Journey [2003]

Intriguing documentary unravels the complicated private life, searching for truth and examining career of a revolutionary architect Louis I. Kahn through an investigation of his son Nathaniel. Brief interviews with leading architects, family members and visits of the buildings will tell a story of a man, who as professional created intensely powerful and spiritual architecture and whose personal life was filled with secrets and chaos. Nathaniel on “My Architect”.

Rem Koolhaas: A Kind of Architect [2008]

Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas has created many outstanding works around the globe, but his work extends beyond, as he is also a writer, filmmaker, and social commentator. An engaging portrait of a visionary man, which shows the heart of his ideas, theories about architecture, urban society and urban landscape, why is language so important and how he approaches creative process.

Oscar Niemeyer : A Vida É Um Sopro | Life is a Breath [2007]

A man both hailed and criticized as a “sculptor of monuments.” Pritzker Prize-winning architect Oscar Niemeyer reflects on his long life (in 2007, he turned 100 and still working). In a relaxed atmosphere, the architect tells the stories of his main projects, talks about politics, friends, women, and speaks out vehemently for invention and creativity. He is still very active and at the age of 98, he married his 60 year old secretary.

Kochuu: Japanese Architecture / Influence & Origin [2003]

KOCHUU [translates as "in the jar"] is visually stunning film, which illustrates key components of traditional Japanese architecture through images of gardens and details of traditional and contemporary buildings. Shows how the past, present, and future architecture is affected by ‘invisible’ traditions and shows juxtapositions of ideas. Includes interviews with some of Japan’s leading architects as well as Scandinavian contemporaries [Tadao Ando, Sverre Fehn, Toyo Ito, etc.].

I.M. Pei : First Person Singular/The Museum on the Mountain [1998]

Set of two documentaries both produced and directed by Peter Rosen, filmed in America, Europe and the Far East. This documentary gives a fascinating insight into the creative design process and construction of Pei. Part 1, “First Person Singular” focus on his childhood, education, experience and philosophy. Part 2 “The Museum on the Mountain” discuss the conception, design, and building of Japan’s majestic Miho Museum. Bonus feature project portfolio (up to 1998), what makes this documentary a must for any student of architecture, but anyone would appreciate!

How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr Foster? [2010]

Premiered in Berlin in February 2010. Written and narrated by Deyan Sudjic. Filmmakers Norberto López-Amado and Carlos Carcas trace the career of British architect Norman Foster from his origins to the top of his profession, visiting some of his most iconic structures, and exploring how has he been influenced by the art world and incorporates art into his designs. Tells the story through images in cinematic style, aiming of speaking to everybody.

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If you are interested also in Fashion, Graphic Design, Origami or Films, check out Design Documentary Part I : DESIGN & GRAPHICs, Design Documentary V: DESIGN & GRAPHICs, Design Documentary Part II : FASHION and Design Documentary Part IV : ARCHITECTURE.

Visuals Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman [2008]

Visual Acoustics of Julius Shulman. Without any doubt, one of the best world’s architectural photographers. This award winning documentary is must see for both architects and photographers. It captures evolution of modern architecture chronicled in unforgettable and iconic shots. Some say these unique photographs of buildings from Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra, Mies van der Rohe and Frank Gehry shaped, embodied and defined the the way we look at modernism. Narrated by Dustin Hoffman, directed by Eric Bricker, plus brings in depth interviews with architects, artists and others. There is also available a book by Tashen – Modernism Rediscovered.

Annie Leibovitz : Life Through a Lens [2008]

Directed by her sister Barbara, the film reveals the life and loss in life of Annie Leibovitz perceived through a lens. The world’s celebrity photographer talks about her childhood, the early days at Rolling Stone and transition to Vanity Fair Magazine, and later her most significant personal relationships including motherhood. Full of interviews with famous people and colleagues show her photographic life, her aspirations to artistry, passion and unforgettable iconic photos.

Bill Cunningham New York [2010]

Documentary, which still needs to get from festival screenings on to DVD, but already won Documentaries Awards in Sydney and Nantucket Film Festivals 2010. Bill Cunningham, the 80 year old New York Times photographer, is obsessively interested in photographing the way people dress. As Anna Wintour says: “We all get dressed for Bill!” On one side, New York high-fashion community full of self-importance with its ego-inflated icons, on the other side, Bill indifferent about celebrities, uninterested in personal fame or money. Polar opposites meets in one place – avenues of New York City. For forty years, he has been riding around on his bicycle, documenting fashion trends on the street by day and New York’s social scene at night for his two weekly columns in the Sunday Times.

Richard Avedon: Darkness & Light [1996]

Richard Avedon is one of the most influential and innovative characters in the fashion photography of 20th century and this is one of the best documentaries ever made. He is a great storyteller describing his life, his inspirations, methods, creative process and endless photographic inventiveness. It is full of interesting and joyfull stories of people, who worked with him. At the end you`ll understand that his personal charm is reflected in every picture he made.

Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Impassioned Eye [2003]

72 minutes biography and insight into a life and artistic process of a man, considered to be the grandfather of photojournalism and by many considered as the greatest photographer of the the 20th Century. Heinz Bütler interviews Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908-2004) and few others share their observations. Henri`s objective in photography was simple: “Seize the moment.” He comments briefly his photographs, talks about his travels, imprisonment during World War II, being with Gandhi moments before his assassination, about becoming and being a photographer, and about composition.

Smash His Camera [2009]

Photographer Ron Galella, or notorious paparazzo, specialized in shots of stars with their guards and he was wildly successful in the 1960s and ’70s. But not among the wealthy and famous. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis sued him, Marlon Brando broke his jaw and Steve McQueen gave him a look that would have killed, if looks could kill. Filmmaker Leon Gast shows the public and private sides of Ron, in which he talks about his career, freedom of the press, his attitude about celebrity culture, and his run-ins with some of his subjects. His work has been shown in galleries around the world and he’s widely regarded as the most gifted artist in his chosen field.

The Adventure of Photography [2003]

Explores in ten-part series and in four-hour retrospective the history and power of photography since 19th century. Development of various schools are explained through more than 1,700 images with 300 celebrated artists, such as Richard Avedon, Ansel Adams, Brassai, Robert Doisneau, Max Ernst, Eadweard Muybridge, Helmut Newton, Man Ray, Edward J. Steichen, Alfred Stieglitz, Andy Warhol, Irving Penn, Robert Capa, etc.
Discs include: The Precursors, The Surrealists, War Photography, Portraitists, The Photoreporters, Fashion Photography, Nudes, Photography and Science, Amateur Photography, and The Photographic Market.

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