Tracing winemaking’s past and present, Mondovino: The Series employs an elastic and unconventional form of movie storytelling related more to the serial publication of a 19th-century novel than to the traditional compact narratives of cinema. Responding to the challenge of organizing 500 hours of rushes shot over several years in seven countries and five different languages, and with competing cultures vying for attention, Jonathan Nossiter’s 10-hour edit—created simultaneously with his Cannes-competition feature edit, Mondovino (2005)—is a bedazzling tapestry of ten autonomous stories, each with its own complete narrative cycle. Taken together, the episodes create one vast narrative with its own distinctive arc. The aesthetic reflects the fluidity and restless shooting style that Nossiter explored during filming, but more important, it answers the challenge of material that cries out for new forms to match new digital technologies and shifting audience expectations. The spontaneity of digital filmmaking gave the director more freedom to explore the complexity of his subject matter and a greater intimacy with his enormous cast of characters.
Mondovino: The Series. 2006. France. Ten films produced and directed by Jonathan Nossiter. In French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian; English subtitles. 600 min. Theatrical world premiere.
Organized by Jytte Jensen, Curator, Department of Film.