iwonder: May highlights

Marking King Charles III’s coronation on May 6th, new to doco streamer iwonder, comes a special documentary presented by the monarch himself, as he dives into the artistic history of the Royal Family, while offering a window into his own penchant for the paintbrush.

Royal Paintbox
May 6th
In a story previously untold on film, which The Times calls “absorbing…wonderful film……utterly fascinating…entirely engaging,” HM King Charles III reveals an extraordinary treasure trove of rarely seen artworks by members of the Royal Family past and present, exploring a colourful palette of intimate family memory and observation. Shot in the spectacular landscapes of Balmoral, Birkhall, Highgrove, Windsor Castle, Frogmore and Osborne House, ‘Royal Paintbox’ features artworks by members of the Royal Family down the centuries, including some of HM King Charles III’s own watercolours, with contributions from Lady Antonia Fraser, Jane Roberts, Charles Saumarez Smith, Marina Warner, Jane Ridley, Catherine Goodman, Susannah Fiennes, Countess Mountbatten Of Burma, Sarah Armstrong-Jones, and the voices of Penelope Wilton and Freddie Fox.

The Man Who Shot New York
May 16th
The Man Who Shot New York explores the life and work of one of America’s master photographers, yet one who most people have never heard of. A prodigious talent, Harold Feinstein photographed life in all its forms. Whether as a draftee in the Korean War, in a Bebop infused Manhattan loft, or rural hippy enclave in upstate NY, Harold’s 35mm black and white photographs captured the essence of life with a uniquely humanist eye. The re-discovery of Feinstein’s vast and diverse body of work came in his final years and the film, which the Sunday Times calls “Excellent, absorbing, classy and confident,” meets him then: in his early 80s and with a zen-like appreciation for the life he lived.

Living for Art
May 16th
While some artworks sell for millions, most artists today live in dire financial straits. In this award-winning film, artist and filmmaker, Sookoon Ang, explores the real lives and struggles of contemporary artists around the world, from Singapore to Japan, London, Paris, New York, Berlin, and Amsterdam. Through candid conversations with her artist peers, Sookoon explores their financial struggles and their tremendous efforts required to make ends meet.

Whistler: For Art’s Sake
May 18th
Man about town, James McNeill Whistler, was the original art star. But beneath the caustic wit, high gloss, and mannered style was an artist whose pioneering approach would revolutionise the art world. Famous for his patent leather shoes, monocle, and uptown swagger, Whistler’s theatrics attracted the curiosity of buyers and the attention of the critics. When one of those critics accused him of flinging “a pot of paint” in the face of the public with his nearly abstract paintings, Whistler sued for libel, and changed the course of art history. Narrated and voiced by two Academy Award-winning actors, Anjelica Huston and Kevin Kline, this engaging film examines the life of one of the most intriguing and important of America’s artists.

Islamic Art: Mirror of the Invisible World
May 18th
Narrated by Academy Award-winner, Susan Sarandon, this dazzling documentary reveals the variety and diversity of Islamic art. Through an epic journey across nine countries and over 1,400 years of history, the documentary provides a window into Islamic culture and brings broad insights to the enduring themes that have propelled human history and fuelled the rise of world civilisation over the centuries. The film explores themes such as the word, space, ornament, colour, and water, and presents the stories behind many great masterworks of Islamic art and architecture, discovering commonalities in a shared artistic heritage with the West and East along the way.