By Sidney Lumet

By Sidney Lumet is a 2015 documentary film directed by Nancy Buirski that provides an illuminating and comprehensive glance into the life and career of one of the most accomplished, influential, and prolific directors in the history of world cinema - Sidney Lumet. The film offers a captivating tapestry that weaves intimate details from Lumet's personal and professional life with scenes from his iconic movies, creating a profound and multifaceted portrait of a man and a filmmaker who left a lasting mark on American cinema.

Depicting Lumet's filmmaking philosophy and his approach to storytelling through his own words, By Sidney Lumet sits down with the esteemed director for an introspective and reflective look at his career, which spanned over five decades. Lumet is known for directing sterling classics such as Dog Day Afternoon, 12 Angry Men, Network, Serpico, and The Verdict. But beyond his lauded career, this feature specifies the man behind the camera, exposing his musings, motivations, and his commitment to probing the human condition.

This documentary doesn't follow a conventional chronological overview of Lumet's career. Instead, it operates in the form of a cine-essay crafted from Lumet's extensive interview footage from 2008, three years before his death. Lumet ruminates on his beginnings in New York theatre, the social-evocative themes of his films, the role of art in society, his versatile filmmaking style, and his unwavering dedication to humane storytelling.

Importantly, By Sidney Lumet is not just about a filmmaker and his films, but it's about how the times one lives in inform the art one creates, and vice versa. Lumet constantly used his films to probe and comment on pressing social issues such as corruption, injustice, media exploitation, and moral ambiguity. His movies were often fraught with characters battling social structures and their own inner demons. And though a reluctant social activist, Lumet’s influences from the history and politics of his times made his films immensely topical, making him one of the most socially conscious American directors of all time.

Nancy Buirski, known originally as the founder of the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and for her work on The Loving Story, treats her subject with the right mix of admiration and curiosity. She masterfully intertwines the narratives, weaving in thoughts from Lumet himself, excerpts from his films, and critiques of his work. Instead of overwhelming the audience with facts and dates, the film intersperses profound insights in Lumet's understanding and approach to filmmaking.

What makes By Sidney Lumet spellbinding is its subject. Lumet is candid, articulate, introspective, and insightful. His reminiscing is not merely an act of nostalgia but is thought-provoking, with a resonance that goes beyond his own times to ring true even today. He discusses in-depth how he always aimed to reach the audience's emotions and conscience through his films, and how he used his directorial prowess to highlight characters and scenarios that deserved viewer’s consideration and empathy.

Music and cinematography also play central roles in setting the tone of the documentary, as does the editing, which allows for a non-linear format, interspersing interview segments with key scenes from Lumet's body of work. Viewers who are avid film fans or aspiring filmmakers will enjoy this eloquent and heartfelt exploration of Lumet's artistry, depth, and commitment to truth-telling.

In conclusion, By Sidney Lumet is an illuminating and intimate portrayal of an artist who believed in the power of cinema to evoke thought, raise questions, and reflect society. It delivers a sense not only of who Sidney Lumet was as a person and a filmmaker but also of the captivating and defining films he created. For those who love movie history or have an appreciation for observational cinema, By Sidney Lumet offers a potent, perceptive, and nostalgic journey into the life and mind of one of cinema's brightest talents. Even more than a tribute, it serves as an intimate masterclass in filmmaking from a director who lived and breathed cinema.