Persistence of Vision (film)

Persistence of Vision is a 2012 documentary film based on animator Richard Williams' ill-fated attempts to produce his film The Thief and the Cobbler. Directed by Kevin Schreck, its tagline is "the untold story of the greatest animated film never made". The film premiered in Canada on 4 October 2012 at the Vancouver International Film Festival.

Persistence of Vision
Directed byKevin Schreck
Produced byKevin Schreck
Based onThe Thief and the Cobbler by Richard Williams
Music byAdi Yeshaya
CinematographyKevin Schreck
Edited byMaureen Gosling
Kevin Schreck
Production
company
Kevin Schreck Productions
Release date
  • October 4, 2012 (2012-10-04) (Vancouver International Film Festival)
Running time
83 min
CountryCanada
United Kingdom
United States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Canadian animator and filmmaker Richard Williams struggles to finish his masterpiece, a long-term vanity project called The Thief and the Cobbler. Originally begun in 1964 as an adaptation of middle-eastern folk tales, the project continues to grow in scope and complexity over several decades while Williams and his studio seek proper funding. In 1988, Williams is hired as animation director on the hit film Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and his long-laboured project is finally given the greenlight by Warner Bros.

Unfortunately, Williams' meticulous attention to detail, as well as the forthcoming release of Disney's similarly themed Aladdin, prove too much for the studio, and on May 15, 1992, after three decades of work, Williams and his team are fired from the project. The film is then recut and hastily released in various editions that bear little resemblance to Williams' original vision. Williams himself retires from animation and refuses to speak about the film for several years after. He eventually releases a bestselling instructional book, The Animator's Survival Kit, and becomes a legendary mentor and instructor to a whole new generation of animators.

Though Williams did not participate in the making of the film, archival footage of him is combined with interviews of his co-workers.[1]

Cast

Reception

Drew Taylor of IndieWire called the film "a heartbreaking account" and a "Herculean accomplishment".[2] The Globe and Mail rated the film 3.5/4 stars and called the film "gripping".[3] Jeff Shannon of The Seattle Times rated the film 3.5/4 stars and described it as "engrossing" and "surprisingly suspenseful".[4]

Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2013 Persistence of Vision Buffalo International Film Festival Audience Award for Best Of Festival Won[5]
2013 Persistence of Vision Buffalo International Film Festival Audience Award for Best Documentary Won[5]

See also

References
  1. DOC NYC
  2. "'Persistence of Vision' Is A Heartbreaking Account Of A Thwarted Animated Masterpiece". Indiewire. 2012-11-09. Retrieved 2013-10-18.
  3. Canada (2012-10-03). "VIFF movie review: Persistence of Vision". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2013-10-18.
  4. Shannon, Jeff (2013-08-15). "'Persistence of Vision': Documenting mystery of unfinished masterpiece". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2013-10-18.
  5. "2013 Audience Awards". Buffalo Film Festival. 2013-08-13. Archived from the original on 2014-01-18. Retrieved 2013-10-18.
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