Educational Media Reviews Online

At once sprawling and intimate, this documentary examines the extensive renovation of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, one of the premier art museums in the world. The renovation, which began in 2003, was an extensive 10-year, $500 million undertaking beset by administrative changes, delays in permitting and construction, budget woes, design changes, and activist protests. The New Rijksmuseum traces each development, providing privileged access to the individuals at the forefront of the project, both in front of the public eye and behind the scenes. The film beckons us into the office of the director, takes us deep into the archives, sits in on working meetings with the architects, attends art auctions and public meetings, and listens in on the dreams of impassioned museum curators.

With an eye for nuance, the film captures the complexities of diplomacy in the public realm and demonstrates that the human factor is undeniable, even in projects of this consequence. Throughout, the artwork plays a silent character, painted faces and sculpted bodies seeming to add to the story. Spanning more than two hours, The New Rijksmuseum tells a complex story told with a light touch. There are opportunities to divide the film into multiple segments. Enjoyable for any audience, the subject matter is especially informative for those interested in the art world, city planning and policy, and architecture.