My Architect: A Son's Journey 2003

Critics score:
93 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Marta Barber, Miami Herald: It is a stunning work that captures with elegance -- and touches of lyricism -- the challenge of finding the man through the artist. Read more

Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune: A quiet, inspiring study of the vagaries of genius, the blindness of commerce, the pain of family conflicts and the almost sublime power of great architecture or great art. Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: A meticulously structured portrait of a complicated man who remains elusive even after key elements of the puzzle have been pieced together. Read more

John Hartl, Seattle Times: One of the most moving nonfiction films in recent memory. Read more

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: We're in a moment of boys reconsidering their dads: Both 'Big Fish' and 'The Barbarian Invasions' invoke similar relationships. But 'My Architect,' unlike those two movies, parries rose-tinted pretensions with stronger senses of history and truth. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: Almost against reason, Nathaniel Kahn makes his compulsions work for him. His irritating ways lead to insight; his insistent need for attention ends up making the film more than it unmakes it. Read more

Houston Chronicle: Read more

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: The finest achievement of My Architect is the way the son locates the light of his father's personality. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: The architect of his own revealing work of art, Nathaniel Kahn has built something affecting he can call his own. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: Meeting this engaging, emotional, articulate cast of characters who surrounded Louis Kahn, the viewer can't help but enjoy his passion and folly. Read more

Jane Sumner, Dallas Morning News: Irresistible and haunting. Read more

Ella Taylor, L.A. Weekly: What makes it enthralling is the younger Kahn's openness to a range of emotional responses (his own and others') to his father's life above and below board. Read more

John Anderson, Newsday: A worthy if flawed film. Read more

Bob Campbell, Newark Star-Ledger: Locates the human dimension the architect never grasped. Read more

Jami Bernard, New York Daily News: An honest, emotional documentary about a man who defied being truly known. Read more

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer: For gripping drama and suspense, there are few fictional movies that can hold a candle to Mr. Kahn's odyssey through time and space. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: Isn't a bad place to begin if you're curious about architecture and don't know much about Louis Kahn. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: What a sad film this, and how filled with the mystery of human life. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: Those buildings are remarkably photogenic, particularly the government building in Bangladesh, which is a masterpiece, an ideal mix of modernity and ancient splendor. Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star: My Architect contrasts personal history and public legacy to captivating effect. Read more

Time Out: Read more

Leslie Camhi, Village Voice: A bracing, bittersweet testament of filial love mixed with pain and compassion. Read more