- Film Review
- Reviewed By David Parkinson
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4 out of 5
This mischievous documentary examines the work of Alfred Hitchcock against the backdrop of the Cold War. Cunningly conceived by Belgian visual artist Johan Grimonprez and British novelist Tom McCarthy, the montage of existing footage and new material is thematically linked by Hitchcock's obsession with doubles. The film effortlessly shifts between news reports from the launch of Sputnik to the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Master of Suspense's impish introductions to his TV show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and a Jorge Luis Borges story that's been tweaked to encompass Hitch meeting his doppelganger on the set of The Birds. There's even room for some coffee commercials and encounters with lookalike Ron Burrage and soundalike Mark Perry. But, for all the originality of the concept and the ingenuity of the assemblage, this says less about media-generated paranoia (both then and now) than it does about Hitchcock's teasing attitude to his work and how badly American cinema currently needs somebody of his genius.
Plot Summary
Fantasy documentary from Johan Grimonprez that uses a mix of archive footage and new material to explore Alfred Hitchcock's fascination with doubles.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Hitchcock double
- Ron Burrage
- Hitchcock voice
- Mark Perry
- Tippi double
- Delfine Bafort
Crew
- Director
- Johan Grimonprez
- Categories
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Documentary
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Drama
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