| Filmworker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Tony Zierra |
| Produced by | Elizabeth Yoffe Tony Zierra |
| Starring | Leon Vitali |
| Edited by | Tony Zierra |
Running time | 94 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Filmworker is a 2017 American documentary film directed byTony Zierra aboutLeon Vitali, a successful British actor who, after playing the role of Lord Bullingdon in theStanley Kubrick-directedBarry Lyndon, gave up his acting career to work for decades as Kubrick’s assistant. Filmworker premiered at the2017 Cannes Film Festival on May 19 and was nominated for the L'Œil d'or, le prix du documentaire – Cannes.[1]
After his performance as "Lord Bullingdon" in Stanley Kubrick’sBarry Lyndon, actor Leon Vitali gave up his career to become Kubrick’s personal assistant. For more than two decades Vitali played a crucial role behind-the-scenes helping Kubrick make and maintain his body of work. InFilmworker, Vitali’s experiences with Kubrick are brought together with previously unseen photos, videos, letters, notebooks and memos from his private collection. Interviews with actors, family, crew members and key film industry professionals who worked with Kubrick and Vitali are also utilized throughout the film.[2]
Director Tony Zierra was working on another Kubrick related project when he met Leon Vitali. After extensively interviewing Vitali, Zierra and his producing partner, Elizabeth Yoffe, decided that his story should be told and began shooting what would becomeFilmworker.[3] The film took three years to complete and was shot inCalifornia,New York,Kentucky,UK andSweden.[4]
Filmworker features interviews with actors and film industry professionals who worked with, or knew, Kubrick and/or Leon Vitali, as well as members of Vitali's family. Participants include actorsRyan O'Neal (Barry Lyndon inBarry Lyndon),Danny Lloyd (Danny Torrance inThe Shining),Matthew Modine (Private Joker inFull Metal Jacket),Lee Ermey (Gunnery Sgt. Hartman inFull Metal Jacket),Marie Richardson (Marion inEyes Wide Shut),Stellan Skarsgård,Pernilla August,Brian Capron andTreva Etienne (Morgue Orderly inEyes Wide Shut). Film industry professionals featured inFilmworker include former and currentWarner Bros. executives Julian Senior,Brian Jamieson,Warren Lieberfarb, Steve Southgate and Ned Price.
Filmworker was given a long standing ovation after its premiere at Cannes.[5] Following Cannes, the press and critical reviews were favorable. Onreview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 95%, based on 86 reviews, and an average rating of 7.7/10.[6] OnMetacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 73 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[7]
Owen Glieberman inVariety gaveFilmworker a positive review and wrote that it is the best of the Kubrick-themed documentaries.[8] Gwilym Mumford wrote inThe Guardian thatFilmworker is "A revealing and stirring celebration of one of cinema’s unacknowledged heroes."[9] Bilge Ebiri ofVillage Voice putFilmworker on his list of top 12 best movies at Cannes 2017.[10] Ann Hornaday inThe Washington Post calledFilmworker "movie love at its purest" and said that "Vitali’s story marked an incursion of the real world into Cannes in the very best sense, as a celebration of its anonymous inhabitants’ role in bringing our collective dreams to life."[11]
Leon Vitali died on 19 August 2022 in Los Angeles.[12] The Associated Press story about Vitali's death, states that Tony Zierra "is working on a director’s cut of Filmworker that will include new footage that he and Vitali wanted in the film, but couldn’t get done in time for its Cannes debut in 2017."[13]