I´ve always found the world of art fascinating. Not that you´ll find me in a museum every weekend, but I always have found it interesting how people respond to art and which amounts they are willing to pay for it based on the name under it. When it comes to the paintings themselves I mainly can appreciate the classic ones. Modern and abstract art doesn´t do anything for me. The subject in this documentary, Per Kirkeby, also makes abstract art and is one of the best known artists from Denmark.
His career seems to come to an end though when he falls down the stairs, which causes brain damage. Because of it he can no longer see well, can only concentrate for short periods of time and he can´t keep an overview anymore when doing bigger pieces. Director Anne Wivel follows him from the moment just after his accident and documents his revalidation, where he has to find his own artistic voice again.
The film is at its best when Kirkeby is talking. He makes clear how he experiences his handicap and how it impacts him and the people around him. The biggest part of Man Falling however, consists of moments where he´s painting, but as he makes abstract art and no time is spent on showing you his work before the accident you get no sense of how it has impacted his abilities. As I saw him making his art I got an “emperor’s clothes” feeling, because I didn’t see what was so special about his work. As a documentary his struggle with such a life changing event is interesting, but there is too much painting to keep you interested.
Wait a minute, the dude who did some of the chapter paintings in Breaking the Waves?
I didn’t look into it, but could be…