My Architect is an inspiring documentary about a son wanting to know his father, the architect Lou Kahn, who died alone in the men’s restroom at Penn Station in NYC without any identification. This fascinating man traveled extensively, designed beautiful buildings around the world; seemed to be appreciated and understood more so in the east than in the west; was the father of three children, and was loved by his wife who said, “Lou owned nothing, books and that sort of thing. He didn’t care about money.” She went on to say that, “he could have been a billionaire, but. . . .” He also had two mistresses who loved him, and two children from those two relationships.
Nearing the end of the movie there’s an interview with Indian architect B.V. Doshi, who said to the son, Nathaniel, that, “Lou had reached that state of superconsciousness where for him everything was alive, and everything was in the state of transformation. . . .”
Israeli-born architect, Moshe Safdie said of Lou Kahn, “. . . he was a very spiritual person . . . ” and, “he was a real nomad and as tragic as his death was in a railroad station, it was so consistent with his life.” After watching the movie I sensed that if Lou Kahn were to send word to us, he’d probably say he had no problem with dying alone at Penn Station.
Architect , Shamsul Wares when interviewed in Dhaka, Bangladesh cried as he spoke of him, and had extraordinary things to say about Lou Kahn, the man, the architect, the nomad, and the way he lived his life.
We follow Nathaniel as he pieces together the life of his father. Through numerous interviews, and journeys around the world, and in seeing the beauty in the magnificent buildings his father designed, he finally understood his father . . . well, as much as anyone can understand another.
This is not a razzmatazz, can’t catch your breath kind of movie. Rather it’s about a wildly interesting man who lived life on his own terms.
it’s a beautifully-made documentary. Good job Nathaniel.
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“The real does not die, the unreal never lived. Set your mind right and all will be right. When you know that the world is one, that humanity is one, you will act accordingly. But first of all you must attend to the way you feel, think and live. Unless there is order in yourself, there can be no order in the world.” – Nisargadatta Maharaj
I saw this movie and loved it too. Perhaps the most moving part of it, to me, was how this man was able to create a work of art for people of a different culture, the Bangaladeshi people, that spoke for them, as well as to them. I think it says a lot about the significance of communal art — especially architecture — in the spiritual life of a people, and about how art can bridge cultural divides.