Learning from Light: The Vision of I. M. Pei (Bo Landin, Sterling Van Wagenen, 2009): USA

Reviewed by Kathleen Amboy.  Viewed at Victoria Hall, Santa Barbara Film Fest.

  There are  three elements that famed architect I. M. Pei considers before beginning any new project – space, light, and movement.  Learning from Light:  The Vision of I. M. Pei is a documentary which follows Pei’s commissioned work on the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar.

Pei is a fan of geometric shapes, which is how he attempts to describe in simple layman’s terms, the construction of the museum – an ordered set of geometric shapes.

When Pei accepts any commission, he begins his work by conducting thorough research into the culture for which he is building.  It is Pei’s understanding that the Western world knows very little of Islamic art, and so the structure would need to incorporate openness and natural light in order to draw interest inward.

The goliath structure sits regally alone on a small man-made type peninsula, drawing in the sun’s rays and reflecting its beauty in the calm water that surrounds it.

At 92, Pei confesses that the Museum of Islamic Art should be his last commission,  he feels compelled to retire now that his work is complete.  Anyone who has been to the Louvre in Paris (or seen photos of it) will know the iconic Pei  from his signature glass and steel pyramids erected in the mid 1980’s.

While the music (Yo-Yo Ma) and filmwork are highly captivating to the senses, there is a recurring and slightly annoying VO narration throughout, that makes one feel as though they were watching something straight out of the Travel Channel – no wonder, the film was produced in association with Qatar Museums Authority.

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Published:
02.09.10 / 9pm
Category:
Documentary, Films, Santa Barbara Film Festival 2010