WALKING ON WATER

Cinemavixion Review

Andrey Paounov's "Walking on Water" offers an unvarnished, cinema verité immersion into the singular world of Christo, the legendary artist renowned for his monumental, ephemeral installations. Released in 2018, this documentary provides an intimate, fly-on-the-wall perspective as Christo embarks on "The Floating Piers," a project conceived with his late wife and artistic partner, Jeanne-Claude. Eschewing interviews and voice-overs, the film plunges viewers directly into Christo's process, from the initial spark of an idea to the complex realities of its execution. The documentary masterfully captures the sheer audacity and logistical grandeur of Christo's endeavors. It navigates the intricate interplay between artistic vision, engineering prowess, bureaucratic hurdles, and the omnipresent force of nature. Through breathtaking aerial cinematography and candid, vérité-style filming, "Walking on Water" not only chronicles the unfolding of a spectacular dream but also paints a compelling portrait of the driven individual chasing it. The film earned critical acclaim, reflected in its 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 63, with audiences appreciating its raw portrayal of artistic pursuit amidst epic challenges.