‘Merchant Ivory: The Documentary’ Review – A Hero’s Journey Retold Through Interview Clips

All is valid in love and art. So what if a match is made in heaven in the realm of movies and emotions? That’s what Merchant Ivory, the new documentary from Stephen Soucy, explores as it recounts the inspiring journey of legendary director James Ivory and the late producer Ismail Merchant as they hunt down projects to work on through their production company Merchant Ivory, struggling with conflicts, success, love, failures, and other disasters.

One of the key elements to enjoying Merchant Ivory is recognizing how their collaboration has resulted in an impressive body of work. Films like Howards End, A Room with A View, Maurice, The Remains of The Day, The Golden Bowl, and many more are the culmination of two brilliant minds, united in love and passion for the arts. The film is comprised of interviews with some of their more prominent collaborators from costume designers to some of the finest British actors of all time.

The documentary opens up a world of early promises and artistic influences. It seeks a creative expression that is only genuine to their voice. It’s exciting to see Ivory talking about his relationship with the late Merchant, while countless actors describe what it is like working on a Merchant Ivory Productions set. Interviews include legendary actors such as Vanessa Redgrave, Emma Thompson, and Helena Bonham Carter to lesser known, but frequent collaborators with the production company. It is a peek into the filmmaking industry, especially low-budget, and independent cinema: everyone and every element matters. What makes it a delight to watch is how those two ambitious young men believe in themselves and have driven all the people in their vicinity to believe in themselves as well.

Soucy excels in showcasing the Merchant Ivory Productions style, he revels in showcasing it, making it less a mystery and more of a love letter to two passionate young men both in love with cinema and each other. The beauty of the film lies not in their moments of complete understanding and harmony, but in their arguments. Contrary to romantic ideals about the best couple, the magical team, Merchant Ivory is about the struggle of collective differences, and how people become dedicated to bringing everything together.

The documentary doesn’t gloss over the artistic experience but shows it for what it truly is: a consuming and exhilarating venture. It is a fusion of a group of souls for the final product to come out. Watching both Ivory and Merchant banter together on set, never agreeing on a single thing is bittersweet, lamenting the enthusiasm that artists of a previous decade have shown toward their craft. It also develops an air of mystery around Ismail Merchant, the phantom limb of the film, present and absent at the same time.

Actors, assistant directors, costume designers, and editors talk about him both in awe and sometimes with a hint of frustration, which makes him all the more mysterious and exciting. An enigma only mentioned and displayed through photographs, clippings, old footage interviews, and bittersweet reminiscences from his partner. It feels like a haunting, but more of a film movement rather than a traditional “In Memory” documentary. Rather than making Merchant the focus of the narrative, the compass is directed toward his joint existence with his collaborator and longtime partner. 

Merchant Ivory is a dream embedded in reality. It’s a film about the art of making something grand out of the ashes. The heroes of the story comprise the story itself, and that’s where the beauty and the groundedness of it shine, as opposed to the other parts where it lags a little, lost in its focus on the creative process, or Merchant and Ivory’s fire and ice qualities. 

Merchant Ivory: The Documentary is currently playing in select theaters courtesy of Cohen Media Group. The film will be available on Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital platforms on November 11, 2024.