The Gates
USA, 2007, 87 Min, English, Hebrew Subtitles
20 years ago two young artists, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, set out to create a grand artistic project in Central Park, Manhattan. They were refused permission back then, but didn''t give up the fight, 20 years later, Mayor Bloomberg granted them permission to go ahead with the project in the park. A long breaker, composed of orange fabric gates that sway in the wind; the thousands of people that pass underneath them become part of the artwork; a fascinating connection between art and nature – created by man.
To fund the project the artists raised an incredible 20 million dollars over a two year period.
Albert Maysles began this documentary all those years ago and Antonio Ferrara continued it. Megalomania, unbelievable artistic ego and stubbornness, all wonderfully captured and presented in this stimulating film.
Director: Antonio Ferrera, Albert Maysles Producer: Antonio Ferrera for Masles Films Cinematography: Antonio Ferrera, Peter Hutton, Albert Maysles, Karola Ritter Editor: Antonio Ferrera, Matthew Prinzing