THIS IS ORSON WELLES

2015 would have marked Orson Welles’ 100th birthday. In celebration of the talented actor and fiercely independent director’s centennial, Clara and Julia Kuperberg trace the sometimes difficult journey of a man who left a profound mark on the the silver screen, but who was unable to fully realize his ambition. Shunned by the great Hollywood producers of the day who found him pig-headed and uncompromising, Welles toiled away at his craft and by his own admission, spent most of his time looking to finance his films. Fascinated by magic and a great admirer of John Ford, this multifaceted artist captured the imaginations of noted filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese, who credits Welles’ most celebrated work, Citizen Kane (1941), with reinventing the cinematographic landscape. Despite his reputation among fellow directors as the greatest American filmmaker of all time, Welles had to move to Europe in order to make a living. Screened as part of the Cannes Classics series at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, This is Orson Welles weaves together interview clips that spotlight this towering figure’s deadpan humour as he looks back on his turbulent career.