At Berkeley

Frederick Wiseman's films are the purest examples of documentary filmmaking that it's possible to find. There are no onscreen captions in his films, no music and no interviews; he simply sets up his camera and captures life with it.

In At Berkeley Wiseman's subject is ostensibly the University of California at Berkeley, allowing us to explore the campus from the perspective of both students and staff, but his real concern is something larger and more universally resonant. As board members struggle to cope with increasingly tight budgets, and students protest against cuts, the film highlights the uncertain future of public education in today's economic climate, and asks what price we can place on something that is so integral to the future of so many.

Hypnotically edited and intellectually stimulating, At Berkeley doesn't feel a minute too long, even at four hours. Wiseman's subtle artistry and insatiable curiosity has resulted in yet another masterwork, and it is further proof that he should be regarded as one of the world's most vital filmmakers.