Yield to Total Elation: The Life & Art of Achilles Rizzoli 2000
Distributed by New Day Films, 22-D Hollywood Avenue, Hohokus, New Jersey 07423; 201-652-6590
Produced by Hearts and Hands Media Arts and Pat Ferrero
Directed by Pat Ferrero
VHS, color, 50 min.
College - Adult
Architecture, Art
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Melinda Davis, The Abecedarian (editorial services)A.G. Rizzoli (1896-1981) was an architectural draftsman in the San Francisco Bay area. Shy and reclusive, he did his daily work without fuss, and at home at night, indulged his imagination as he rendered extremely complex architectural drawings of elaborate Beaux-Arts buildings - buildings and monuments that only existed in his imagination. Influenced by silent films, by Horatio Alger novels and by the growth of San Francisco, his work was enigmatic, sometimes allegorical and sometimes completely inexplicable. This film is elegantly written and filmed, using period photographs of San Francisco, understated re-enactments of episodes in Rizzoli’s life, and commentary and explications by experts on Rizzoli – all in all, a fascinating look at an unusual and little known artist. Recommended for college level and above, especially for Californiana or architectural history collections.