Achieving the Unachievable (2007)

An inquiry around the mystery behind the missing hole in M.C. Escher "Print Gallery".

Director:

Jean Bergeron

Writer:

Jean Bergeron

Stars:

Denys Arcand, Joost Batenburg, François Bergeron

4 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
Denys Arcand	...	Himself
Joost Batenburg	...	Himself
François Bergeron	...	Himself
Hans de Rijk	...	Himself
Bart de Smit	...	Himself
Serge Fiori	...	Himself
Douglas R. Hofstadter	...	Himself
James Hyndman	...	Escherien narrator
Louise LeCavalier	...	Herself
Hendrik Lenstra	...	Himself
Roger Penrose	...	Himself
Robert Roussil	...	Himself
Moshe Safdie	...	Himself
Willem F. Veldhuijsen	...	Himself

Storyline

M.C. Escher is among the most intriguing of artists. In 1956 he challenged the laws of perspective with his graphic Print Gallery, and found himself trapped by an impossible barrier. His uncompleted master-piece quickly became the most puzzling enigma of modern art, for both artists and scientists. Half a century later, mathematician Hendrik Lenstra took everyone by surprise by drawing a fantastic bridge between the intuition of the artist and his own, and completed Escher's work mathematically. This story was made accessible to all audience and most magically presented in this 52-minute film awarded for best visual effects at the 3rd Bangkok Science Film Festival in 2007.

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English French

Release Date:

17 February 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Achever l'inachevable

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 700,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Locomotion Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

52 min

Color:

Color (HDV 1080i50)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

User Reviews

Art & Science

I do strongly recommend this film. And I just found out that the ALA also do on their 2008 list of Notable Videos for Adults. It is very accessible to the layman and the balance between art and science in this film was finely struck. It is half entertainment, half education and, if I may add another half, half out of this world. The whole film is one more great paradox around Escher's work. There is a fair deal of 3D animation, but none of it is annoying. I wonder how they did the end scene… I would have loved to see a bit more of the math, but that's my own preference. A few of the people talking were unknown to me, but I was enchanted by Sir Penrose's comments on artificial intelligence, to the effect that computer will never experience consciousness. Feels good for a change.