Paper and Glue (2021 | USA | 95 mins | JR)
JR has been an incredible street arts for decades now, starting out as a graffiti artist and moving on to photography, large scale street art and so much more. In the same vein as Banksy, he has something to say and says it with his work. Now traveling the world to literally cover it with his images, he finds unique ways to unite and teach folks you’d never expect to see in one space together much less working together to create art. Spanning three very different projects (and many stories) this documentary shows intense, beautiful, and revelatory experiences affecting everyone involved. First traveling to a supermax prison in the US, then on to a poor gang-infested neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, and woven throughout the neighborhood in Paris the artist himself called home as a young man.
I was hesitantly optimistic about JR as an artist and a human. I’ve seen many many photographer documentaries and some were enlightening and inspiring, others were frustrating and eye-roll-worthy. After he spoke boldly and honestly in a room filled with prisoners of the American penal system, then got them to listen to him and eagerly join in on the project I was hooked. I can’t imagine the tension that must have filled that room and as a photographer myself I could feel the nervousness coming from the artist, yet he still moved forward and offered them his vision with a deep passion. It was incredible to watch and I wanted to be a part of it. Starting his career with illegally applied graffiti rife withd political statements then growing into these moving, powerful images over massive public spaces is exhilarating and I can’t speak highly enough of this film. It’s worth every absorbing minute.
Paper and Glue was shown at the Mill Valley Film Fest 10/7 – 10/17. It will have a limited release starting November 12th with a wide release on MSNBC January 2022.