Childhood confessions and reflections have been a constant for many veteran filmmakers in recent years, and Steven Spielberg has been no stranger to the phenomenon. After the death of his parents, he has decided to look at his own past, at his family, and how his passion for cinema has directly stemmed from his relationship with them. The result is ‘Los Fabelmans’, a film that tries to putting the pieces of a very complex puzzle in order.
There is much to appreciate in this film, although it has certain problems within it that directly clash with the idea that Spielberg tries to defend. As minimum, forces us to look at his previous work with different eyes, as he addresses father figures and religion. Although, in a certain way, that was already done by others for him with his convenience in the documentary ‘Spielberg’.
who is steven
Susan Lacy reviews the life and work of Hollywood’s most transcendent director of the last 50 years in this film that can be seen on HBO Max. With comments from Spielberg himself, as well as many of the people he has worked closely with in his long career, and also members of his family (yes, his parents too), we have here an interesting focus shedding light towards movies that we know by heart but we can still find more things for them.
From the beginning with the impact that ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ had on him at the time of thinking in pictures and how to explore characters to his different vital moments that have motivated the different creative decisions he has made. His relationship with his parents and their divorce, the idea of remaining a big boy so as not to lose the illusion of filming, his reflections on Judaism, his patriotic spirit at certain times. Perhaps some mention of September 11 is missing to finish showing the world around him.
But of course, we are talking about a documentary in which the director himself is deeply involved, so he will tend above all towards hagiography, treading very gently on the thorniest moments of his life (his commercial failures, the questioning of his suitability to direct films like ‘The color purple’ and much more). However, it is a great piece to reinforce the analysis of a filmmaker who, in many ways, cinema has changed.
‘Spielberg’: cinema with perspective and clarity
It’s always exhilarating to see a professional describing his work, especially when it seems like he’s going to humanize himself by saying he’s not sure how he’s going to set up a scene (how to direct the actors, where to put the camera) until he’s on set that day. Of course, then you see how instinctively it frames everything wonderfully and makes you feel very small, incapable of being able to read the cinema with the same clarity and intelligence as he.
Of course, it is essential to have enough control over his filmography if you don’t want to be crushed. On the other hand, watching ‘Spielberg’ will makes me want to go back to one of his movies, from the favorites to those that perhaps did not end up enthusing you. Lacy may not make much of what would make an amazing DVD extra, but if the goal is to help spread the enthusiasm for Steven, she’ll do just fine.
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