Frederic Wiseman
(United States)

Frederick Wiseman was born in Boston Massachusetts in 1930. Wiseman served in the U.S Military between 1954 and 1956. He also spent some time in Paris before returning to America and teaching Law at the Boston University’s Institute of Law and Medicine.

Despite initially training as a lawyer, Wiseman turned to documentary filmmaking very successfully. He has won numerous film awards, as well as Guggenheim and MacArthur fellowships.

In 2003, Wiseman was awarded the Dan David Prize and in 2006, the George Polk Career Award, given annually by Long Island University to honour contributions to journalistic integrity and investigative reporting.

The institutions that Wiseman examined early in his career – a hospital, a high school, army basic training, a welfare centre, a police precinct – have “problems” that the filmmaker uncovers. His approach reveals the profound acknowledged and unacknowledged conformity and inequality of American society.

Wiseman’s films are also a reflection on democracy. His films portray the “American dream” and the “air conditioned nightmare” questioning the world and human existence.

Over the years his films have become more a skilful mix of observation, testimony, reflection, an absence of prejudice, and courage, and humour. A complex body of work, as great works of fiction (novels, drama, music, and film) can be, with the same profundity, contradictions, and questions without answers.

Films
Filmography
Ex Libris – The New York Public Library
2017
In Jackson Heights
2015
National Gallery
2014
At Berkeley
2013
Crazy Horse
2011
Boxing Gym
2010
La danse - Le ballet de l'Opéra de Paris
2009
State Legislature
2007
La dernière lettre / The Last Letter
2002
Domestic Violence
2001
Belfast, Maine
1999
Public Housing
1997
La Comédie-Française ou L'amour joué
1996
Ballet
1995
Zoo
1993
Aspen
1991
Near Death
1989
Central Park
1989
Blind
1987
Missile
1987
Adjustment and Work
1986
Deaf
1986
Multi-Handicapped
1986
Racetrack
1985
The Store
1983
Model
1980
Seraphita's Diary
1980
Manoeuvre
1979
Sinai Field Mission
1978
Canal Zone
1977
Meat
1976
Welfare
1975
Primate
1974
Juvenile Court
1973
Essene
1972
Basic Training
1971
Hospital
1970
Law and Order
1969
High School
1968
Titicut Follies
1967

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