Review: "How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster?" (***1/2)

The Millau Viaduct as featured in "How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster?"

One look at the dizzying heights and sharp angles of the Millau Viaduct will have anyone convinced of Norman Foster's genius. Really, one look at any of the icon's accomplishments should leave even the most clinched of jaws powerless to keep from dropping. This film, directed by Carlos Carcas and Norberto López Amado, is as curious as the question posed in the title. Stunning photography of some of the modern era's most innovative architecture carries this film into must-see territory.

AJFF: "Incessant Visions" (*****)

Filmmaker Duki Dror recreates Mendelsohn's sketches throughout the film.

Equal parts 'film nerd' and 'architecture nerd,' I was always going to love this film. I already counted myself as a fan even before having seen it. A film about a deservedly renowned architect doesn't get released without catching my attention. (Can "How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster?" please get released soon?)

What makes "Incessant Visions" so wonderful is that it's not just a film about Erich Mendelsohn's work, it's about his life, his marriage and his passion. The film beautifully renders a picture of the icon's brilliance and his personality. This remarkable documentary receives my first five-star review.