Manifesto - SIFF Review (2017)

By: Mike Ward on Tuesday, May 23

NR Running Time: 95 mins

SHOULD I SEE IT?

YES

  • If anyone ever needed proof that Cate Blanchett is one of our generation's greatest actors, I present Manifesto.

NO

  • Blanchett holds this experimental film together with a dizzying array of performances, but this is going to be a really hard nut to crack for some more mainstream viewers. A fair number of folks may just simply not get the point of this whatsoever.


OUR REVIEW

Cate Blanchett tackles 13 different roles in 13 different scenes in Manifesto, which was initially created for an art installation, but received a theatrical release this month by FilmRise.

Reciting a number of monologues in the caricatures of a Russian choreographer, a news anchor, a homeless man, a teacher, a puppeteer, and more, Blanchett falls into unrecognizable territory with these captivating portrayals.

Whether you buy what she’s selling or can find an appreciation in the sets and locations where she delivers these readings is dependent upon whether you can buy into the overall premise. Blanchett naturally has received rave reviews for this work and for adventurous cinemaphiles, this could be exactly what you're needing.

For everyone else...I am not so sure if this has a general audience waiting for it.

CAST & CREW

Starring: Cate Blanchett.

Director: Julian Rosefeldt
Written by: Julian Rosefeldt
Release Date: May 12, 2017
SIFF Premiere Date: May 22, 2017
FilmRise