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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.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
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
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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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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 5 months ago by Ginola14
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 7 months ago by Stanley Johnson
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 21 months ago by Mark Pack
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 21 months ago by MPemb
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
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
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
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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