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"I like to be on the edge of the possible"
Jorn Utzon
Jorn Utzon, acclaimed architect
of the Sydney Opera House, tells the story of the design and
construction of his masterpiece.
PAL DVD
NTSC DVD
PAL VHS
October 20, 1998 is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the official
opening of the Sydney Opera House by the Queen. Jorn Utzon, the
architect, was awarded the first prize in a competition to design an
Opera House for Sydney. In 1957 he flew to Australia to begin work on
the construction of the greatest building Australia has ever seen and,
indeed, one of the finest achievements of modern architecture. Utzon
was forced from the project in 1966 and has never returned to
Australia. What defeated him in the end was politics. This film charts
the dramatic course of the creation of a masterpiece and includes a
rare interview with Jorn Utzon as he reflects on his role in the
compelling story of the conception and construction of the Sydney Opera
House.
Jorn Utzon, the Danish architect of the Sydney Opera House lives in
Hellebaek, Denmark in a modest house he built himself. Utzon is 80
years old. In a distinguished career he has received every major
architectural award, the Alvar Aalto Medal, the Order of Australia, the
Sonning Prize, the French Legion of Honour and, just this year, the
Keys to the City of Sydney. But in February 1966 it was a very
different story. In that month his nine years' work on the Opera House
came to an end. He wrote to the then NSW Minister for Public Works,
Davis Hughes, the historic words "you have forced me to leave the job".
Utzon fled Australia with his young family in April 1966, he has never
returned.
This beautifully photographed film charts the triumphant, exhilarating
and then tragic course of the design and construction of the Sydney
Opera House. For the first time in 25 years Jorn Utzon appears in a
lengthy interview speaking in English. Four of his colleagues, from the
international and close-knit team of architects he assembled to work on
the project, also appear for the first time on film.
All Australians, and much of the rest of the world, are familiar with
the unique profile that is Jorn Utzon's shell concept for the Sydney
Opera House but very few have ever entered the building. Those that do
venture inside often speak of an ambivalence towards the interior
architecture. Utzon, of course, left the project before he could begin
work on the interiors -- they were finished by his successors the
Australian team of Peter Hall, David Littlemore and Lionel Todd.
One claim was that Utzon had no plans for his interiors, yet in 1973
the State Library of NSW took delivery of thousands of drawings which
reveal his concepts. Many models too were built which show Utzon's
unique ideas for his interiors. Almost all these models mysteriously
disappeared after Utzon left Australia but for the first time, with
archival footage that has never before been seen on Australian
television this film shows details of these intricate and breathtaking
models.
Finally Utzon himself agues that the building should be respected now
for what it is and not what it could have been had things gone
differently. He implores the Australian Government to inscribe the
Sydney Opera House on the World Heritage Listing in order to give it
lasting international protection.
This is a gentle portrait of a man and his most enduring work. The
tragedy is there, a testament to what could have been, but so too is
the antidote -- the subtle and glorious vista on Bennelong Point. Critical response
"This rare insight into the
mind of the man who gave us our most famous building was made possible
by the determination of two Australian filmmakers who run an
independent outfit called Film Art Doco…The resulting film is a
fascinating examination of the design of the Opera House as well as the
politics of the time."
The Australian
"This excellent documentary…illuminating stuff"
The Age Green Guide
"The Edge of the Possible is something you
should try not to miss...This film by Daryl Dellora and Sue Maslin
provides many fine images of Bennelong Point…The coup is the long
interview with Utzon…Of chief interest here are the detailed models of
[Utzon's never realised] interiors…They have not been seen on
television before and are breathtaking."
The Sydney Morning Herald
Credits
Directed by Daryl Dellora
Produced by Sue Maslin
Duration: 56 minutes 24 seconds
Format: Digital Betacam, Colour & Stereo Sound
Released Nationally on ABC-TV Inside Story 8:30pm 20 October 1998
Featuring an exclusive interview with the architect of the Sydney Opera
House, Jorn Utzon
Written by Daryl Dellora & Ian Wansbrough
Original Music by David Bridie and John Phillips
Narrated by Robyn Nevin
Developed and Produced with the assistance of Film
Victoria
Developed with the assistance of the New South
Wales Film and Television Office
Produced with the assistance of the Australian
Broadcasting Corporation
Financed by the Australian Film Finance Corporation
Limited
A Ronin Films release of a Film Art Doco production
© 1998 Film Art Doco Pty Ltd and the Australian Film Finance
Corporation Limited
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