“Manifesto” isn’t exactly new, having already debuted as a multi-screen art installation featuring Cate Blanchett in 13 wholly different roles. But now it’s coming to the Sundance Film Festival as a feature to prove once and for all that Blanchett is one of finest actresses of our time.
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Written and directed by Julian Rosefeldt, the movie sees Blanchett taking playing everything from a homeless man to a schoolteacher to Amy Adams in “Arrival” (?), with the dialogue coming from the manifestos of artists, architects, and filmmakers. Here’s the official synopsis:
Tour-de-force: a term so overused that we need an undeniable acting performance to renew its meaning for cinema. Cate Blanchett has just given us one, going all-out in Manifesto. Already respected as one of the best actresses in film, Blanchett raises the bar even higher by playing 13 different roles in Manifesto, embodying some of the most influential and emotional artist manifestos in history.
The architect of this unique film idea is director Julian Rosefeldt, a veteran of intricate films and installations. In Manifesto, he uses the words from various twentieth century manifestos of artists, architects, and filmmakers for dialogue. With a gorgeous production and luscious cinematography that would make Baz Luhrmann proud, Rosefeldt puts Blanchett in the everyday world — as a housewife, a factory worker, or a TV anchor — declaring the words that have inspired whole art movements. Manifesto is entertaining while also asking us to question if these passionate statements still hold true and inspire us today.
“Manifesto” debuts in Park City on January 23rd, and the picture will be seeking U.S. distribution.