The Silence of Mark Rothko

Although it includes ample examples presented in loving montages, the paintings of Mark Rothko (1903-1970) are not—despite the title—simply left to speak for themselves in Marjoleine Boonstra's documentary. The Silence of Mark Rothko also features excerpts from the artist's writings (read by his son Christopher, who occasionally offers his own recollections), commentary from biographer Annie Cohen-Solal, and observations by Franz Kaiser—curator of the Gemeentemuseum in the Hague—as he carefully arranges an exhibition of Rothko's work, as well as on-the-street interviews with people in the New York neighborhood where his studio was located. Although Rothko is often pigeonholed as an “abstract expressionist,” the painter rejected such categorization, and Boonstra persuasively argues for a broader view, taking into account Rothko's fascination with the mythic and his desire to connect in a deeply personal way. The documentary also emphasizes Rothko's eventual embrace of environmental art, leading to a collection of works that were specifically designed to generate an all-encompassing ambiance in a specific locale. The experience of the contemplative frescoes of Fra Angelico in Florence led Rothko to accept a commission to create paintings for what has come to be called the Rothko Chapel in Houston—a small, windowless structure whose interior atmosphere Rothko hoped would engender a feeling of transcendence that he longed to share with others. Offering a diligent, multi-layered exploration of Rothko's career, this perceptive portrait of an important American painter is recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)