DON'T CALL HIM AN ARTIST // A FILM REVIEW OF "M.C. ESCHER: JOURNEY TO INFINITY"
M.C. ESCHER: JOURNEY TO INFINITY immediately feels like a different kind of documentary. Told through M.C. Escher's actual words and with spirited narration by Stephen Fry, the film opens up and explores the man behind the stunning visuals we have come to know from him throughout the years. Right at the top of the film, we hear Escher himself (or at least his words) muse that the only person who could make a "really good movie" about him is himself. He also states that he thinks he would bore people to death if he made a film. Fortunately, director Robin Lutz does not bore as he dives deep into his word and passions, showcasing his beautiful art and often animating it in front of us, which gives the film a unique and magical feel. It's interesting that Escher didn't see himself as an artist, which he clearly is. He saw himself as a mathematician, creating and solving problems on a canvas.
His own views on his art and who should enjoy it are also very interesting. He was puzzled on why the kids of the psychedelic era would love his paintings, not quite getting what they were able to connect to. But at the end of the day, he didn't mind being able to make a little money off of a poster, which was very cheap to produce, instead of a print which was much more expensive. The majority of the film dissects how his own experiences match up with his art, and also explores his personal life such as his marriage that descended into his wife's late life mental illness and their eventual separation. One of the most striking stories is when Escher tells of how we went to see a Jewish mentor of his during the rise of Hitler and the Nazi regime. He arrived to find that his mentor had been taken by the Nazi's, with only his art left behind and scattered on the floor, marked with soldiers footprints. Such peaks into his life is fascinating as is commentary from his family and fans like Graham Nash of "Crosby, Stills & Nash," who appear as talking heads. M.C. Escher is a very intriguing figure to learn about and although Journey to Infinity is less of a biography than a celebratory dive into his work, it still checks all the boxes one might be looking for. Perhaps even, with the help of the wonderful animation, we even can see for a moment how he himself saw his own masterpieces.
GRADE: B+
WRITTEN BY Robin Lutz, Marijnke de Jong DIRECTED BY Robin Lutz NARRATED BY Stephen Fry FEATURING Graham Nash, George Escher, Jan Escher, Liesbeth Escher NOW AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL CINEMAS EVERYWHERE FOR MORE INFO: M.C. ESCHER: JOURNEY TO INFINITY