New Showbiz

You are here:
Architecture of Infinity

Architecture of Infinity

2019

Director

Christoph Schaub

Runtime

85 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

How can structures, which take up defined, rigid portions of space, make us feel transcendence? How can chapels turn into places of introspection? How can walls grant boundless freedom? Driven by intense childhood impressions, director Christoph Schaub visits extraordinary churches, both ancient and futuristic, and discovers works of art that take him up to the skies and all the way down to the bottom of the ocean. With the help of architects Peter Zumthor, Peter Märkli, and Álvaro Siza Vieira, artists James Turrell and Cristina Iglesias, and drummer Sergé “Jojo” Mayer, he tries to make sense of the world and decipher our spiritual experiences using the seemingly abstract concepts of light, time, rhythm, sound, and shape. The superb cinematography turns this contemplative search into a multi-sensory experience.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

3.9/10

Limited

Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film focuses on the intersection of architecture, light, and spirituality. There are no mentions of LGBTQ+ characters or narratives exploring non-cisnormative identities.

Gender Representation

Fair

The narrative is driven by a male director and features several prominent male architects and artists. It lacks a significant presence of female voices in the primary expert roles.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The film explores global architectural achievements through a cross-cultural lens. However, the primary contributors represent a largely Western European architectural tradition and Eurocentric aesthetic.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Limited

The film explores spiritual experiences through abstract concepts like light and time. It avoids dogmatic religious instruction, leaning instead toward secularism and subjective human introspection.

Disability Representation

Minimal

The documentary focuses on multi-sensory aesthetic experiences for the viewer. There is no evidence of neurodivergence or physical disabilities being addressed through specific character arcs.

Strengths

  • Explores universal themes of transcendence and human introspection through sensory experience.
  • Utilizes high-profile experts to provide deep insight into spatial perception and light.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lacks significant representation of female voices among the primary architectural experts.
  • The expert contributors lean heavily toward a Western European aesthetic framework.
  • Does not engage with identity-based storytelling or social hierarchy subversion.

AI Analysis

Architecture of Infinity is a contemplative documentary that prioritizes aesthetic and philosophical inquiry over social or identity-based narratives. The film's structure is built upon the relationship between human perception and the built environment. Because the work seeks to explore transcendence through light and shape, it operates outside the frameworks of identity politics. The film focuses on the universalized experience of space rather than the specificities of marginalized identities.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.