My Father the Genius

Visionary architect Glen Howard Small is the subject of this film festival favorite, a documentary profile made by one of his daughters in lieu of the biography he asked her to write. Undeniably gifted, Mr. Small—a contemporary of Frank Gehry—isn't quite the genius he believes himself to be, and the film doesn't pull any punches in this regard, or in its frank, provocative depiction of his troubled private life (which includes two ex-wives and a few ex-girlfriends). Filmmaker Lucia Small deserves kudos for creating an intensely personal yet thoroughly professional and (reasonably) objective portrait of a man who burned bridges faster than he could design them, and while some viewers will find Glen to be rather annoying, he's certainly a colorful enough character to make My Father the Genius a compelling watch. Recommended for larger collections. [Note: DVD extras include a 23-minute “Small Photo Gallery” featurette featuring Small discussing various projects, three interviews with architects John Johansen, Michael Rendler, and Pritzker-winner Thom Mayne, (21 min. total), a 17-minute 1970's mini-movie “Biomorphic Biosphere” with commentary by Small, a 15-minute “Filmmaker and Father” interview, a “Sundance Channel's Aftereffect” segment (5 min.), a teaser for Genius II, and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for an interesting profile.] (E. Hulse)