The Pixels of Paul Cezanne: And Reflections on Other Artists

Film director Wenders returns to the page (following On Film) with this eclectic and often enlightening collection of essays and speeches on fellow artists, written for a variety of publications and occasions. Wenders writes affectionately about his personal relationships with directors Michelangelo Antonioni and Samuel Fuller, calling the latter the “greatest storyteller” of the 20th century, and proves himself a diligent student of his medium’s past in his analyses of the westerns of Anthony Mann and the family dramas of Japanese auteur Yasujiro Ozu. The author’s reflections are not limited to cinema artists. The title essay on Cézanne evinces an appreciation for painting at once analytical and deeply felt. Those who have seen Wenders’s film The American Friend won’t be surprised to find him deeply impressed by the work of Edward Hopper, and admirers of his 3-D documentary Pina will especially enjoy his tribute to its subject, dancer Pina Bausch. It’s tempting to read these essays quickly; they’re short, rigorous, and infectiously enthusiastic. But those who take the time to slow down and savor them, and perhaps sample the work of the artists they describe, will be glad they did. [em](May) [/em]