Sagrada: The Mystery of Creation
1h 30m
Directed by Stefan Haupt • Documentary • 2014 • 94 minutes
One of the most iconic structures ever conceived, Barcelona's La Sagrada Familia is an astonishing architectural project first imagined by Antoni Gaudi in the late 19th century. Sagrada: The Mystery of Creation celebrates Gaudi's vision while exploring the continuing work of the thousands of artisans and laborers as they strive to complete the colossal basilica.
Despite the ongoing construction, La Sagrada Familia has been admired by art historians for decades. Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Goldberger called it "the most extraordinary personal interpretation of Gothic architecture since the Middle Ages."
The film captures the basilica's quiet ambiance as it peers into nooks and crannies and listens to those who have devoted their lives to work on it. This unhurried, meticulous investigation allows the viewer time to observe, perceive, and reflect upon the historical and spiritual significance of this glorious landmark while gaining deep insight into the ongoing process of artistic creation.
"A peaceful and gently stirring documentary that considers faith and architecture and human achievement in something like geologic time. Director Stefan Haupt persuades viewers to surrender to a place, to a vision, and to a scale of thinking beyond our own lives." - Village Voice