An Evening with Frederick Wiseman

“Documentaries are a form of fiction,” said Frederick Wiseman. Considering the abundant richness of observation and detailed depiction of human behavior in his astonishing oeuvre (which now includes 45 feature films, many of them epic length), Wiseman must be regarded as one of the world’s greatest working filmmakers. Known for his incisive and immersive studies of a wide variety of institutions and organizations, Wiseman offers a panoramic view of modern life. Yet his work is also deeply intimate, featuring fully drawn characters. This very special evening with Wiseman includes a screening of his 2022 narrative film A Couple.  

A Couple
Dir. Frederick Wiseman. France, USA. 2022, 64 mins. DCP. This rare fiction feature from Wiseman looks at the long marriage between Leo and Sophie Tolstoy. Exquisitely filmed in the Brittany region of France, the film takes the form of a monologue by Sophie, drawn from her diaries and letters to the “great man.” The screening will be followed by a conversation between Wiseman and series curator David Schwartz, including clips from Wiseman’s widely acclaimed new documentary Menus Plaisirs Les Troisgros, a delectable inside view of a Michelin three-star restaurant in rural France, which opens at the Film Forum in New York on November 22.

Tickets: $15 / $11 senior and students / $9 youth (ages 3–17) / discounted for MoMI members ($7–$11). Order tickets. Please pick up tickets at the Museum’s admissions desk upon arrival. All seating is general admission. Review safety protocols before your visit.

Frederick Wiseman portrait by Wolfgang Wesener.