Title: Helvetica (2007)Starring: Dimitri Bruni, Jonathan Hoefler, Paula Scher
Directed By: Gary Hustwit
Documentary filmmaker Gary Hustwit seems to have a knack for finding the extraordinary stories behind the mundane, everyday things we all overlook and the people who designed them. He more recently explored similar subject matter in 2009's Objectified, but here we get a look specifically at typography and graphic design via the most easily read font in any language around the whole world.
Helvetica. It's the world's most used font. It's on street signs, it's used for the logos of stores and cars and food products, it's seen in countless magazines and newspapers. But where did it come from? How long ago? Who still uses it? These questions and a bunch more you wouldn't have even thought of are answered with absolute certainty by a varied panel of typographers and graphic designers.
What's most interesting to me about this documentary is that, not only are there several successful and well-spoken people who KNOW the story of Helvetica and other fonts, but they all have a very passionate take on it. In fact, some time ago the graphic design field was split into two very separate groups. Those for this particular san serif and those adamantly against. It truly is fascinating to hear the different takes on this subject matter, even though for lack of a better term "who cares?"
If you're a fan of well-made, truly intriguing documentaries, I highly recommend you take a look at this film. It'll capture your attention, and you won't even understand why.
Score: 9/10
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