Reviews & Quotes | The New Bauhaus

Educational Media Reviews Online | Johnnie N. Gray, Technology Services Librarian, Christopher Newport University
Highly Recommended "The New Bauhaus is a well-done tribute to its founder, Laszlo Moholy-Nagy. Excellent production and writing make this a worthy film for use in any art history course or for those interested in modern art. Interviews with relatives and students of Moholy-Nagy frame the story of his life and his contribution to German and American art and design. Firsthand interviews from students taught at the New Bauhaus fondly remember assignments and show pictures of what they were told to work on. The philosophy to unlearn and relearn design took many of his students by surprise as Moholy-Nagy encouraged students to look with the eyes of a child. The underlying philosophy regarding art and design was for that of social betterment. Not only is the breadth of artwork from Moholy-Nagy shown from galleries and archives (but that of his students is shown alongside his) where the influence of his role as teacher shines.

"It provides essential and interesting insight into Bauhaus as a movement and the approach to teaching. Very much a tribute to Moholy-Nagy, the viewer is left with the evidence that he was a visionary and very much ahead of his time. Easily utilized in the classroom in high school and at college level due to the story and visuals."

Booklist
"In this stylish program, extensive interviews with former students, Moholy’s family, and art historians and dramatically read excerpts from the artist’s writings are paired with period stills and footage to trace his career ... Art enthusiasts will enjoy this tribute to the artist and his lasting influences on the modern movement."

Forbes | Travis Bean
"THE NEW BAUHAUS details the original school’s transformation into the IIT Institute of Design, which today hosts some of the top design students in the country. The film seamlessly weaves together Moholy-Nagy’s evolving artistic development and personal history with the institute’s fraught financial hiccups with the expanding Chicago landscape. In effect, THE NEW BAUHAUS becomes a film about pushing yourself to see past what is normal and discover the beauty of the space and architecture that surrounds us. Much like many filmmakers do with cities in fictional narrative form, THE NEW BAUHAUS director Alysa Nahmias allows Chicago to become a living, breathing entity that pulsates with Moholy-Nagy’s romantic outlook on the world in documentary form. By the end of the movie, you won’t just admire Moholy-Nagy—you’ll want to be just like him."

Chicago Sun Times | Bill Stamets
"Alysa Nahmias designs an aptly stylish documentary on the life, ideas and impact of Hungarian artist László Moholy-Nagy, who taught design in Chicago."

812FilmReviews | Robert Daniels
"[H]is name today is rarely tossed around as reverently as say Picasso or Monet. Instead, his story remains an unique and partly exposed gem of Chicago. And while his legacy extends to his students becoming exceptional teachers and creators in their own right, spreading the word and style of the New Bauhaus to newer generations in varying cities and countries, he mostly remains a ballyhooed figure known for his reach more than expansive work. Nevertheless, by Nahmias so wonderfully linking the two together: the man and the work—viewers can only hope but aspire to the creed by which Moholy-Nagy lived his life. And if you’re like me, and am fascinated by watching how highly successful figures approach their craft, if their fervent belief in their life’s vision inspires you as it does me, then The New Bauhaus can only spur you to reinvent yourself with the same dexterity used by Moholy-Nagy himself."

New York Times | Jane Margolies
"Today, when newcomers to America are often regarded as suspect, Petter Ringbom and Marquise Stillwell of Opendox, the film’s production company, seek to highlight Moholy-Nagy‘s contributions as an immigrant. He never gained the recognition of Bauhaus leaders like Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, but Moholy-Nagy kept alive “the idea of unifying different disciplines,” said Mr. Ringbom, also the film’s cinematographer."