Shot over the course of a week-long entrance examination held by the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, this rigorous yet witty documentary brings to mind the observational, accumulative style of Frederick Wiseman; film-makers Adéla Komrzý and Tomáš Bojar are interested not only in the individual subjects, but also the hidden machinations of cultural institutions.
The initial phase of the test aims to eliminate less capable candidates by requiring them to create portraits of live models. The subsequent stage presents more engaging challenges, including a written assessment on art history and prompts on topics like climate change. While the documentary only briefly showcases the artworks produced, it primarily focuses on the professors’ thought-provoking inquiries about the forbidden and motivations behind creating art. These questions aim to challenge prospective students to break free from clichés and preconceived ideas about the artist’s lifestyle.
Despite their direct and straightforward approach, the professors’ questioning is not meant to criticize, but rather to stimulate intellectual discussion. This is because it is impossible to reduce an artwork to measurable qualities. Instead, the teaching method focuses on a candidate’s ability to clearly explain their methodology and practice. These Socratic exercises seem to be a response to the growing trend of individualism among young artists, as the artworks move away from direct and collective activism. One teacher blames this trend on the fall of the USSR. This raises the important question of whether personal expression can still be considered political if it is not tied to collective struggles. This question of self-reflection is one that we, as viewers, can also ask ourselves.
Source: theguardian.com
