The life and career of architect Norman Foster is examined in beautifully filmed documentary
HOW MUCH DOES YOUR BUILDING WEIGH, MR. FOSTER? (Norberto López Amado & Carlos Carcas, 2011)
IFC Center
323 Sixth Ave. at West Third St.
Opens Wednesday, January 25
212-924-7771
www.ifccenter.com
www.mrfostermovie.com
Born into a working-class family in Manchester in 1935, knighted architect Sir Norman Foster has spent the last forty years building some of the most impressive structures in the world. Titled after a question asked of him by Buckminster Fuller, How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster? examines the life and career of the intriguing character behind such innovative constructions as the London Stansted Airport terminal, the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, the Sage Gateshead, the renovated Wembley Stadium, the Great Court at the British Museum, Millennium Bridge, Hong Kong International Airport at Check Lap Kok, and the futuristic Masdar City in Abu Dhabi. Written and narrated by architecture critic Deyan Sudjic, the director of London’s Design Museum, in a steady but worshipful tone, the film features interviews with artists Anish Kapoor, Richard Serra, Anthony Caro, and Cai Guo-Qiang, journalist Paul Goldberger, musician Bono, and numerous people from Foster + Partners, which employs thousands of men and women around the world. Directors Norberto López Amado and Carlos Carcas also speak at length with Foster himself, who waxes prophetic about artistic creation, environmental responsibility, and integrating his work with nature. The film examines Foster’s drawing method, the importance of building models even in the digital age, and his dedication to improving humanity’s existence on the planet in addition to delving into his personal life, from the tragic loss of his first wife to his obsession with flight and cross-country skiing. Director of photography Valentín Álvarez lovingly moves his camera in and around such remarkable Foster creations as the Hearst Tower in New York, the Reichstag restoration in Berlin, the Millau Viaduct in France, the Swiss Re Tower in London, HSBC headquarters in Hong Kong, and Beijing Airport, shooting them as if they were majestic cathedrals, accompanied by Joan Valent’s evocative score performed by the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra. Amado and Carcas steer clear of any controversy, which has accompanied numerous Foster projects, instead concentrating on his many successes and the mind of the man behind the myth, which is itself a remarkable creation. How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster? flows like one of Foster’s buildings: elegant, organic, unique, and endlessly fascinating.