At Berkeley

Octogenarian Frederick Wiseman's 38th documentary feature encapsulates the epic brand of Direct Cinema that has made him the foremost chronicler of America's great institutions. In the 1960s, the University of California at Berkeley was a hotbed of student radicalism. But, as Wiseman reveals over four hours of discreet but unflinching observation, it is now at a crossroads, as budgetary cutbacks threaten not only the teaching programme, but also the campus's hard-won relationship with the local community. Whether eavesdropping on committee meetings, lectures, tutorials or protest groups, Wiseman records with utter equanimity how generational and factional differences impact upon the administrative and educational aspects of Berkeley's remit. Prioritising ideas and debate over personality and incident, the director's style can feel a little rarefied. But few are better at conveying the ambience of a place and the mindset of the people who uphold its traditions and values. And, for once, Wiseman seems to be pushing a message, as he warns that a society that devalues learning will fatally undermine itself.