In Anselm, Wim Wenders creates a hypnotic portrait of Anselm Kiefer, one of the most innovative and important painters and sculptors of our time. Shot in 6K resolution, and presented theatrically and on Blu-ray in 3D, the film presents an immersive cinematic experience of the German artist’s work, which explores the overawing beauty of human existence, landscape, and myth while confronting the horrors of his country’s history and seeking to undo the postwar silence in which both artist and director came of age. Through archival footage, biographical scenes, and direct access to his subject at work amid the massive installation in France where he now lives among his creations, Wenders traces the arc of Kiefer’s career, provoking an engagement with creativity through the senses, the intellect, and the spirit.

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Video Quality

Anselm arrives on Blu-Ray courtesy of Janus Contemporaries to exceptional results. The film was shot in 6K and finished to be exhibited in 3D. The Blu-Ray release does come with an extra disc to view the 3D version, but we do not have the equipment to determine how it turned out. Information is largely shared through sumptuous visuals that are so clear that you feel as if you reach out and touch them even in 2D. The film captures an array of materials that makes you understand why this man is worth discovering.

This footage looks incredibly crisp and clear with dazzling natural color grading and detailed textures within the background. The movie avoids talking head insights in favor of a more detached approach with perfectly curated environments. All of the footage looks as technically excellent as you can reach in high definition. Janus always delivers a worthy encode and allows the film plenty of room to breathe. There are no signs of compression artifacts or other digital hiccups of the sort. Janus Contemporaries has done everything in its power to provide a stellar presentation.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a strong DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the original German that executes this material exactly as intended. There is some narration and on-screen exchanges, but this endeavor largely lets the visuals do the talking with a moving score keeping things flowing. The score sets the mood of the film, and this element is resolved pleasantly here as it saturates the room. Any words spoken come through clearly. Ambient noises are rendered with precision within the textured soundscape. The audio track does not pull focus, but it processes all of the subtle nuances with the utmost care. Optional English subtitles are provided.

Special Features

The Janus Contemporaries Blu-Ray of Anselm includes a leaflet featuring the essay “Anselm: Wide Canvas” by Michael Joshua Rowin in which he provides some good insight into and analysis of the film. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Meet The Filmmakers: A great 16-minute conversation with director Wim Wenders in which he discusses his background in documentaries, his friendship with Anselm, crafting a film that accurately captures the subject, why he wanted to document this figure, the surprises he arranged for the reenactments, and much more that is enlightening.

Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

Anselm is a stunning visual experience that rewards viewers with imagery that just might linger long after the film has finished. That being said, the film keeps you at a distance with its opaque delivery that eschews concrete insights into its subject for more high-minded, artistic ambitions. If you are familiar with other documentaries from Wim Wenders and love his style, you might embrace this approach, but general audiences may find their minds drifting when they have had their fill of lovely imagery. Janus Contemporaries has provided this film with a Blu-Ray that sports a stellar A/V presentation, an option to watch in 3D, and a welcome interview with the director. If the subject sounds intriguing to you, be sure to check it out.

The Janus Contemporaries edition of Anselm will be available to purchase on July 23, 2024, on Blu-Ray and DVD.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Janus Contemporaries and The Criterion Collection have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.