Film Worker
2018, 93 minutes
Director: Tony Zierra
It’s a rare person who would give up fame and fortune to toil in obscurity for someone else’s creative vision. Yet, that’s exactly what Leon Vitali did after his acclaimed performance as Lord Bullingdon in Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon. The young actor surrendered his thriving career to become Kubrick’s loyal right-hand man. The complex, interdependent relationship between Leon and Kubrick was founded on devotion, sacrifice and the grueling, joyful reality of the creative process. By entering their unique world we come to understand how the mundane gives rise to the magnificent as timeless cinema is brought to life at its most practical and profound level.
“Movie love at its purest. A celebration of its anonymous inhabitants’ role in bringing our collective dreams to life.”
– Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post
“Five stars! Tender. A revealing and stirring celebration of one of cinema’s unacknowledged heroes.”
– Gwilym Mumford, The Guardian
“An arresting cinemaniac documentary. Pure candy for Kubrick buffs.”
– Owen Gleiberman, Variety
“Revealing. A fascinating portrait of Stanley Kubrick’s devoted aide de camp. Honors the hard-working, often unacknowledged craftsmen in the film industry.”
– Stephen Farber, The Hollywood Reporter
“Catnip to Kubrick obsessives.”
– Tim Grierson, Screen Daily
“The ultimate fan story: a tale of what it means to live vicariously through a genius.”
– Ben Kenigsberg, RogerEbert.com