Educational Media Reviews Online

This documentary is an abstract meditation on the mythical, sometimes elusive phenomenon of the illuminated Holland sky, a common inspiration which has unified so many artists and painters. Is the light unique, as people say, or is that simply a myth? The light is celebrated in many paintings by Jan van Goyen and Jacob van Ruisdael and in interiors and still lifes by Johannes Vermeer, Pieter Saenredam and Willem Claesz Heda. It’s also featured in the works of later artists such as Jan Weissenbruch, Willem Roelofs, Paul Gabriël and Piet Mondriaan. This myth goes back a long way and some including German artist Joseph Beuys say that the Dutch light lost its extraordinary radiance after the reclamation of large parts of the Zuyder Zee in the mid-1950's. The film explores the idea that light and observation are the cornerstones of a visual culture dating back to the 17th century. Distinguished artists like James Turrell, art historians like Svetlana Alpers and scientists like Gunther Konnen from various countries address the questions raised by Beuys’s theory. Is Dutch light different from light anywhere else in the world? Has it really had a significant impact on art and science? And is it true that it has changed or disappeared? This extraordinary film is about a phenomenon that is as ordinary as it is unique. The powerful experience of taking the time to observe things closely is illustrated by beautiful and vivid photography and paintings.

Video techniques and effects are well planned and executed. Editing of the scenes in the Netherlands, Provence, and the Painted Desert in Arizona is judicious and effective. The subtitles are large and clear as the international experts are interviewed, and they did not interfere with the film's messages. This DVD is suitable for teenagers and adults of all ages. Academic libraries will want to provide for their art and art education departments.

Awards:

• Golden Calf for Best Long Documentary; Grand Prize of the Netherlands Film Festival 2003