Helvetica (2007)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Gary Hustwit

Release Date:

12 September 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

A documentary about typography, graphic design, and global visual culture. |

Plot Keywords:

Typography | Design | Graphic Design | Art | Designer

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Michael Bierut	...	Himself
Neville Brody	...	Himself
Dimitri Bruni
David Carson	...	Himself
Matthew Carter	...	Himself
Wim Crouwel	...	Himself
Tobias Frere-Jones	...	Himself
Otmar Hoefer	...	Himself
Jonathan Hoefler	...	Himself
Alfred Hoffmann	...	Himself
Manuel Krebs	...	Himself
Lars Müller	...	Himself
Mike Parker	...	Himself
Michael C. Place	...	Himself
Rick Poynor	...	Himself
Stefan Sagmeister	...	Himself
Leslie Savan	...	Herself
Paula Scher	...	Herself
Erik Spiekermann	...	Himself
Bruno Steinert	...	Himself
Danny van den Dungen	...	Himself
Massimo Vignelli	...	Himself
Hermann Zapf	...	Himself

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Company:

Veer

Quotes:

[first lines]
Rick Poynor: Type is saying things to us all the time. Typefaces express a mood, an atmosphere. They give words a certain coloring.
Michael Bierut: Everywhere you look you see typefaces. But there's one you probably see more than any other one, and that's Helvetica. You know, there it is, and it seems to come from no where. You know, it seems like air? It seems like gravity?
Jonathan Hoefler: And it's hard to evaluate it. It's like being asked what you think about off-white paint. It's just... it's just there. And it's hard to get your head around, it's that big.
[...]

Soundtrack:

Seqy Chords 3

"Helvetica" a Typography Tour de Force

I saw this film last night at the Rochester Institute of Technology in the company of hundreds of budding graphic designers, new media specialists, and fans of typography. I found it utterly engaging. It wasn't just a film about a font. It was a clever device used to weave a story around graphic design, the importance of typography in the craft, and the passionate opinions on design in general elicited from this stellar cast of über creative professionals.

I feel that this film has a broad appeal beyond typography aficionados, which is admittedly a small tribe. The passion behind the ideals expressed by the graphic designers is undeniable and infectious.

The film was beautifully put together. The effect of showing the ubiquitous use of this font in cities around the world, with people walking by, buses, taxis, and cars whizzing past, etc. all set to a totally perfect music was wonderful. These vignettes provided transitions between interviews with world renowned designers.

You might have trouble finding a screening of this film but if you see it coming to a theater or film festival near you don't miss it!!