Man Falling

The world-famous Danish painter and sculptor Per Kirkeby (b. 1938) suffered a stroke and fell down the stairs, and he’s now unable to paint to his own high standards. Kirkeby worked with Fluxus artists Joseph Beuys and Nam June Paik, created panoramic landscape sequences for Lars von Trier’s Breaking the Waves and became famous for his monumental brick sculptures. After his unfortunate fall he lost the ability to see colors. Sometimes he doesn’t recognize his own paintings or even his wife. His good friend Anne Regitze Wivel follows him closely during his slow recovery. She films everything with a sober approach – from daily discomforts to emotional, openhearted conversations. All Kirkeby wants is to get his old life back, but his physical and mental abilities are restricted. He describes being near-blind as living in a frightening shadow world. Wivel acts as a confidante, which means Kirkeby doesn’t have to hide his vulnerability. The tension between the wheelchair-bound artist and his energetic wife, who has to help while still making sure he can keep his dignity, is highly palpable. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)