Using a specially designed transparent 'canvas' to provide an unobstructed view, Picasso creates as the camera rolls. He begins with simple works that take shape after only a single brush stroke. He then progresses to more complex paintings, in which he repeatedly adds and removes elements, transforming the entire scene at will, until at last the work is complete.
Through the miracle of time-lapse photography, we see the master knocking out a dozen major works over what purports to be the course of a single day.
– Dave Kehr,
Chicago Reader,
25 Apr 2001
rotten:
The work's potential impact is diminished by the gimmicky setup and Picasso's flip approach.
– Michael Atkinson,
Village Voice,
16 Aug 2001
fresh:
This marvelous film, made in 1956 by Henri-Georges Clouzot ... simply sits back in awe as the grand old man, shirtless and confident, does what he does best.
– Desson Thomson,
Washington Post,
28 Sep 2001
fresh:
The gold standard of nonfiction films about the creative process.
– Roger Moore,
Orlando Sentinel,
14 Feb 2002
rotten:
We wonder how many moviegoers will want to sit for well more than an hour and watch a largely repetitious performance that amounts to a sheer artistic stunt.