Hand Gestures

Filmmaker Francesco Clerici's nearly wordless Italian documentary centers on the ancient, complicated process of creating bronze sculptures. Working in the historic Fonderia Artistica Battaglia foundry in Milan—where the all-but-lost art of wax casting still flourishes—artist Velasco Vitali and a team of craftsmen labor diligently to complete a sculpture of a dog in repose. While the materials that they use and their step-by-step method are never verbally described, it is fascinating to see the original figure (made of something red and wet) encased in a kind of hard chrysalis, which then serves as the mold for the molten bronze. Many more tasks will follow before the piece is ready for display in this time-consuming process. A charming, often mesmerizing look at a particular type of artistic craftsmanship, this is recommended. (T. Keogh)