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©1994, a film by Henry Corra, Grahame Weinbren, Albert Maysles,
16mm, color, 81 mins
Film Synopsis:
Umbrellas takes a poignant, in-depth look at the concept
and realization of Christo and Jeanne-Claude's project,
Umbrellas: Joint Project for Japan and U.S.A presenting the
artist at his most triumphant and most vulnerable moments -
from the exaltation of the project's opening day through
unexpected tragedies at the end.
The artists chose sites with contrasting cultures, among
people who were unsophisticated about art; a rice-farming
valley in the Japanese province of lbaraki, 72 miles north
of Tokyo, and a cluster of cattle ranches in the rolling hills
of southern California, 60 miles north of Los Angeles.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude appealed to 29 land-owners in
California, and a total of 485 people in Japan. In October
1991, as planned, the 1,340 blue umbrellas unfurled in
the dense green foliage and rain-dripped autumn light of
the Japanese valley. On the opposite side of the Pacific
Ocean, the 1,760 yellow umbrellas burst open on dry,
golden-colored grass, glimmering in brilliant California
sunlight.
The film winds through the paddies and the pastures,
showing rice farmers and cattle ranchers reacting with
amusement, skepticism and intrigue - with weather
becoming a forceful project participant. Umbrellas
candidly presents the compelling personal reactions to a
tragic death at the California site. Later, during the removal
of the umbrellas, an electrical storm took the life of a
Japanese construction worker. Like life itself, Christo's art has,
in his own words, "a profound dimension of irrationality."
Reviews:
"Maysles' camera work shows that his astute eye is still strong,
Weinbren's editing is elegantly rhythmic, and Phillip Johnston's
original score, which ranges from blues to bounce to big beat,
is a strong plus."
- Howard Feinstein, VARIETY, March 1994
Accolades:
Grand Prize and People's Choice Award, Montreal Festival of
Films on Art.
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