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From Amazon.co.uk
Who would have thought that the history of a typeface would fill a feature-length documentary--and have the narrative sweep of an epic biography? Gary Hustwit's fascinating Helvetica--the story of the world’s most published font and a window onto the rift between modernism and postmodernism--is a reminder that powerful forces are hard to see when they’re everywhere. Hustwit traces the beginnings of Helvetica to ‘50s postwar idealism and the emergence of the Swiss International Typographical Style, a system of graphic design that answered late modernist design ideals of utilitarianism, community and standardisation in the West. Helvetica was the most noted product of this movement, and Hustwit finds plenty of design historians who claim it as an almost supernaturally clear, simple and direct font: a typeface without political, historical or social bias and therefore suited to convey all kinds of public information--from municipal signs to IRS forms. Sure enough, at the height of Helvetica’s fame as a perfect, inherently ‘pure’ design, the backlash begins, and interviews with new-school designers expose the neutrality of Helvetica: its clarity and efficiency make it the perfect tool of governments and businesses who’d like to seem transparent, accountable, open and honest. In the end, it’s just a very good font--but the film’s near-dystopian montages of Helvetica’s use as the official signage of hundreds of familiar corporate identities feels like the unmasking of a Usual Suspects-style conspiracy. Like Keyser Söze, Helvetica works hard to convince you it isn't there, but Helvetica will permanently wake you up to its ubiquity and persuasive force. --Leo Batchelor
Product Description
A remarkable documentary marking the 50th anniversary of Helvetica, one of the most widely used typefaces of the 20th century. Featuring interviews with leading designers, the film explores the nature of urban design and its impact on our everyday lives. Intelligent and compelling, this is the breakthrough documentary hit of the year.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An exciting documentary about something that blends into invisibility.
13 Feb 2008
Format:DVD
The mark of a good documentary is the story. You can take the most exciting set of events and if you don't tell them properly you'll have a bad documentary. In the same week that I ploughed through the chore that is `Sicko', I sat back and enjoyed this lovely documentary about a typeface.
But it's not just about a typeface. In same way that meaning is hung onto a typeface, Helvetica is about design and a version of design history that pulls in the history and stylistic trends that Helvetica has found itself used in, since the typeface itself was designed.
There are passionate and almost aggressive opinions about the typeface and about it's place in design and how it has permeated throughout the things we see every day. It also has humour in places because of this passion where some of the interviewees are pushed to angry swearing about the shape of printed letters. For me the funniest scene is where the Editor of Ray Gun talks about having substituted, in one issue, the bland, seen-it-all-before text of a Brian Ferry interview with wingdings rendering it unreadable because, in his view, it wasn't worth reading.
This is a beautiful documentary that will leave you hunting for Helvetica everywhere and has a story that is strong enough to entertain and inform people who have no interest in design whatsoever but gives an insight into the passion and drive of the people who decorate every object around us, who's job it is to make us forget that it is designed.
But it's not just about a typeface. In same way that meaning is hung onto a typeface, Helvetica is about design and a version of design history that pulls in the history and stylistic trends that Helvetica has found itself used in, since the typeface itself was designed.
There are passionate and almost aggressive opinions about the typeface and about it's place in design and how it has permeated throughout the things we see every day. It also has humour in places because of this passion where some of the interviewees are pushed to angry swearing about the shape of printed letters. For me the funniest scene is where the Editor of Ray Gun talks about having substituted, in one issue, the bland, seen-it-all-before text of a Brian Ferry interview with wingdings rendering it unreadable because, in his view, it wasn't worth reading.
This is a beautiful documentary that will leave you hunting for Helvetica everywhere and has a story that is strong enough to entertain and inform people who have no interest in design whatsoever but gives an insight into the passion and drive of the people who decorate every object around us, who's job it is to make us forget that it is designed.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By bernie
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Blu-ray
This is an intriguing documentary on typography, graphic design, and global visual culture. The origins and metamorphosis of the use of the type font and the people involved. We see its structure and the psychology behind the font. How it got its name. Soon we see it everywhere.
I have to admit I was more moved by the introduction of the film as they were using the lead type and setting up a proof press. I used the same equipment as a lad and always felt that something was missing when the technology changed and it was a less of hands on function.
Beside the font it is interesting to see how graphic design industry works. The people involved in it and the end results; presented by Gary Hustwit.
After waiting this documentary (which lends its self well to the Blu-ray treatment) you will want to "give them Helvetica."
I have to admit I was more moved by the introduction of the film as they were using the lead type and setting up a proof press. I used the same equipment as a lad and always felt that something was missing when the technology changed and it was a less of hands on function.
Beside the font it is interesting to see how graphic design industry works. The people involved in it and the end results; presented by Gary Hustwit.
After waiting this documentary (which lends its self well to the Blu-ray treatment) you will want to "give them Helvetica."
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Design that makes you forget about Design
Fascinating story. Some amazing opinions. And i would agree with another reviewer in that is just plain more enjoyable than the bulk of documentaries out there today. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Ginola14
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinatinf film. Honest!
Yeah, I know what you're thinking. A film about a font. And not just any font either - the clean lined and over used Helvetica. Well guess what people...This is a great film. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Stanley Johnson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Making the history of a font an enjoyable treat for everyone
An 80 minute film about a font may not at first sound like everyone's up of tea, but Gary Hustwit's documentary Helvetica is a great watch. Read more
Published on 23 Aug 2010 by Mark Pack
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dissapointed
One problem for me was a lack of context. There's a summing up of the story of Helvetica and lots of opinions given but with hardly any reference to where it fits in the wider... Read more
Published on 19 Aug 2010 by MPemb
5.0 out of 5 stars
Illuminating
Fabulous documentary with fascinating subjects talking about the unusual and enexpededly riveting subject of printing methods. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2010 by Sweet Glory
3.0 out of 5 stars
quite, quite fascinating and erudite
this film has introduced me to the subtleties of style within the context of the world of print media; I would never have considered this area otherwise
check out the... Read more
check out the... Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2010 by Hill Walker
4.0 out of 5 stars
A definite must for anyone interested in typeface
This a a great documentary for anyone interested in typeface design. Contains some very good interviews with designers. Read more
Published on 16 July 2009 by reiteach
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
Saw the shortened version on BBC 1 last night and loved it. Learning the story of the typeface and seeing how widely it's been used was fantastic. The interviews are brilliant. Read more
Published on 7 Nov 2007 by J. Macdonald
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