S Is for Stanley

S Is for Stanley is a captivating 2015 documentary that takes audiences into the heart of Stanley Kubrick's unique world, a celebrated filmmaker known for his meticulous attention to detail, visionary ideas, and enigmatic personality. The film largely focuses on the relationship between Kubrick and Emilio D'Alessandro, a seemingly ordinary man who served the esteemed director for over 30 years as his trusted personal driver and confidant.

The film opens by guiding us through D'Alessandro's journey from Rome to London, from a mere racing car enthusiast and taxi driver to an indispensable figure in Kubrick's day-to-day life. Kubrick, a notoriously private man, is portrayed with exceptional candidness and warmth through D'Alessandro's everyday encounters with him. The documentary showcases Kubrick not just as the mastermind behind classics like "2001: A Space Odyssey," "The Shining," and "A Clockwork Orange," but also as a somewhat ordinary man with his own routines, idiosyncrasies, and vulnerabilities.

Director Alex Infascelli commands the narrative with a deft touch, utilizing D'Alessandro's unique perspective to develop a distanced intimacy with the famously reclusive Kubrick. We're offered an intriguing peek into the core of Kubrick's reality, his work methods, and his approach to filmmaking. His eccentricities and his genius are well-documented, but de-familiarized by the simple, grounded narratives offered by D'Alessandro. The film infuses warmth and humanity into the Kubrick mythos, subverting familiar ideas about the film maestro, and painting a more believable, nuanced picture.

The character of D'Alessandro is an interesting pivot around which the plot of this documentary revolves. D'Alessandro, recruited by Kubrick in the ascendency of his career, is a stirring character who stumbles upon a cinematic legend and finds himself becoming an integral part of that legend's life. He witnesses pivotal moments in Kubrick's career, lends a helping hand in the execution of iconic film scenes, and, in loving reminiscence, shares stories of a dynamic and life-long friendship.

A stand-out aspect of S is for Stanley is the material available to Infascelli – a wealth of personal artifacts, letters, and memorabilia through which Kubrick's narrative unfolds. The audience gains this fond 'insider view' through personal letters shared between Kubrick and D'Alessandro, archival footage, and photographs. Roberto Pedicini lending his voice-over for Stanley’s letters adds another profound layer to the already heartfelt narrative.

The film defies the convention of a 'behind-the-scenes' narrative and evolves as a story of an extraordinary bond between two contrasting personalities. D'Alessandro’s dependable and humble presence is a grounding presence, a perspective that is often missing in stories about artistic genius. As D'Alessandro narrates his experiences, Kubrick's world unravels before us, offering intriguing insights into his meticulous methods and the effort that was put into creating his cinema classics.

S Is for Stanley is not just a documentary about Kubrick, it's equally about D'Alessandro - a man who remained loyal and committed to a genius's vision despite the challenges and demands it entailed. This film is packed with revelations, carefully interpreted and sketched out through D'Alessandro’s recounting. Moreover, it's an emotional journey that chronicles friendship, mutual respect, and humanity, set against the backdrop of the world of cinema, a world that Kubrick so powerfully mastered and transformed.

Although S Is for Stanley is likely to appeal mostly to Kubrick's fans and cinema enthusiasts interested in learning more about the filmmaker's creative process, the universal themes of friendship, devotion, and destiny-sculpted life paths come across poignantly and thus make the documentary appealing to a wider audience. It's a mesmerizing, uniquely human take on one of the most lauded and enigmatic directors in film history.

In summary, "S Is for Stanley" is an insightful documentary shedding light on a less-explored side of Stanley Kubrick and offering a close-up view of the man behind the director's chair. A journey that is both intimate and personal, encapsulating humor, warmth, and fond respect, this film portrays the uncelebrated hero, Emilio D'Alessandro, and his extraordinary journey in the world of cinema with one of its greatest mavericks. Infascelli's film stands as a tender tribute not only to Kubrick but to the unknown figures who orbit the world of films and filmmakers. With humility and resonance, it reveals the extraordinary in the ordinary, and vice versa.