'Kubrick by Kubrick' Dives Into the Mythos Surrounding the Iconic Visionary

Stanley Kubrick will forever be known as one of the most groundbreaking visionaries to ever grace the cinematic arts. The mythos that surrounds Kubrick is arguably just as powerful as the iconic frames he’s presented to audiences, with stories from his collaborators equally helping to sculpt the lore surrounding the filmmaking titan. From the physical injuries Malcolm McDowell suffered during the creation of A Clockwork Orange to Shelley Duvall’s life-altering trauma brought on by the filming of The Shining, the creative process for Kubrick is arguably just as riveting as the end-product themselves. In a new documentary titled Kubrick by Kubrick, the mythos surrounding the iconic filmmaker is placed front and center.

Directed by Gregory Monro — a documentarian who has made films about other Hollywood luminaries like James Stewart, Robert Mitchum, Jerry Lewis, and more — the film was originally set to premiere at Tribeca Film Festival this year, which was canceled back in March due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Kubrick by Kubrick is based around various conversations Kubrick had with French film critic Michel Ciment, who was the editor of French film magazine, Positif. The two shared a nearly three-decade-long relationship in which many interviews were conducted throughout his press-avoiding directorial career. The documentary will dive into Kubrick’s filmography, and will also include new footage supplied by the Kubrick estate.

Tribeca Film Festival’s description of the film can be viewed below:

Stanley Kubrick’s mark on the legacy of cinema can never be measured. He was a giant in his field, his great works resembling pristine pieces of art, studied by students and masters alike, all searching for answers their maker was notoriously reticent to give. While he’s among the most scrutinized filmmakers that ever lived, the chance to hear Kubrick’s own words was a rarity — until now.

Unspooling exclusive new recordings of detailed interviews with the mythic director spanning 30 years that ruminate on his philosophies, documentarian Gregory Monro weaves a tapestry of archival footage with the rhythm and care of a consummate historian relishing in his discoveries. No stranger to investigating legends of the screen, Monro’s exuberant and lyrical cinematic essay is vital. Taking viewers on a journey beyond Jupiter, Kubrick by Kubrick celebrates the essence of what film means to those who make it — and those who watch.

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