My Architect (2003)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Nathaniel Kahn

Writer:

Nathaniel Kahn (writer)

Release Date:

12 November 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography

Tagline:

The secret life of architectural genius Louis Kahn

Plot:

Director Nathaniel Kahn searches to understand his father, noted architect Louis Kahn, who died bankrupt and alone in 1974.

Plot Keywords:

Architect | Son | Dakar Senegal | Illegitimate Son | Workaholic

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Edmund Bacon	...	Himself
Edwina Pattison Daniels	...	Aunt Eddie
Balkrishna Doshi	...	Himself (as B.V. Doshi)
Frank O. Gehry	...	Himself
Philip Johnson	...	Himself
Louis Kahn	...	Himself (archive footage)
Nathaniel Kahn	...	Himself
Sue Ann Kahn	...	Herself
Haym Richard Katz	...	Richard Katz
Teddy Kollek	...	Himself
Harriet Pattison	...	Herself
Priscilla Pattison	...	Aunt Posie
I.M. Pei	...	Himself
Moshe Safdie	...	Himself
Robert A.M. Stern	...	Himself
Alexandra Tyng	...	Herself
Anne Tyng	...	Herself
Shamsul Wares	...	Himself

Directed by
Nathaniel Kahn

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Nathaniel Kahn		writer

Produced by
Susan Rose Behr	....	producer
Andrew S. Clayman	....	executive producer
Simon Egleton	....	line producer
Phyllis Freed Kaufman	....	associate producer (as Phyllis Kaufman)
Andrew Herwitz	....	associate producer
John Hochroth	....	associate producer
Nathaniel Kahn	....	producer
Yael Melamede	....	co-producer
Judy Moon	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Joseph Vitarelli

Cinematography by
Robert Richman

Film Editing by
Sabine Krayenbühl

Production Management
Simon Egleton	....	post-production supervisor

Sound Department
Travis Call	....	sound re-recordist
Jan McLaughlin	....	sound mixer
Steve F.B. Smith	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Tony Volante	....	sound re-recording mixer

Visual Effects by
Brian Scott Benson	....	digital effects artist
Karen DePrizio	....	computer animator
Karen DePrizio	....	restoration artist
Luke DiTommaso	....	visual effects
Jennifer Russomanno	....	title designer
Keith Yurevitz	....	digital artist

Camera and Electrical Department
Claudia Raschke	....	additional cinematographer
Jonathan Rho	....	additional cinematographer

Editorial Department
Benjamin Murray	....	colorist
Benjamin Murray	....	on-line editor

Music Department
Tracy McKnight	....	executive soundtrack producer
Tracy McKnight	....	music supervisor
Alysia Oakley	....	assistant to music supervisor
Allan K. Rosen	....	music editor
Nicholas Viterelli	....	music editor

Other crew
Matthew Roseman	....	production assistant
Sally Steele	....	publicist

Production Companies

• Louis Kahn Project Inc.
• Mediaworks

Distributors

• Bright Angel Distribution (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Films sans Frontières (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• New Yorker Films (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• Tartan Films (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Barbar Film (2004) (Turkey) (all media)
• HBO Documentary (200?) (USA) (TV)
• Mongrel Media (2004) (Canada)
• New Yorker Films (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Total Film Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Dog Bark Sound  sound design
• Soundtrack New York  sound mix
• SMA Video  telecine
• Verb!  titles (as Verb.)
• Du Art Film and Video  filmprint
• Du Art Film and Video  tape to film transfer
• Commotion Records  soundtrack

Runtime:

USA:116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Australia:PG | Netherlands:AL | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Mt. Desert Island, Maine, USA

Company:

Louis Kahn Project Inc.

Quotes:

Louis Kahn: A Work of Art... is not a living thing... that walks or runs. But the making of a life. That which gives you a reaction. To some it is the wonder of Man's Fingers. To some it is the wonder of the Mind. To some it is the wonder of Technique. And to some it is how Real it is...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Match Point (2005)

A Soulful Film

I saw this movie 4 times within the course of 2 weeks, and could probably have seen it 4 more times without losing interest.

To me the movie is 3 things: a story about a son's search for information about and connection with his father; the father's story, both personal and as an architect; and an homage to the father's architecture. I find the movie very rich on all accounts.

I found the son's search very moving and one I immediately connected to emotionally. The father's story is very interesting--a lot of mystery but also a lot of information, including film of the father which greatly enriches the story. And the architecture is quite wonderful and presented in a very moving way.

The movie is full of interviews, many quite wise and spiritual. A few folks present "the other side of the coin," so we get a good picture of the contradictions of Louis Kahn, his family and colleagues.

The editing and pace of the film drew me in and kept me engrossed throughout. Especially wonderful was the music.

For me this movie is like going to a concert, a museum and a spiritual event all at the same time, as well as seeing an engrossing story. A wonderful experience!