Documentarian Frederick Wiseman is interested in how things tick – training his unobtrusive, observational camera on the inner workings of institutions – and he’s refreshingly plain about it. Just look at some of his titles: Law & Order. Central Park. Welfare. Aspen. Model. Providing a terrific opportunity to see some of the less celebrated works of the prolific filmmaker (still making movies into his 90s), Austin Film Society’s new Essential Cinema series, Frederick Wiseman: Eight Systems, kicks off Tuesday with 1983’s The Store, about Neiman Marcus’ flagship department store in Dallas.
– Kimberley Jones
Sept. 3, 7 & 8
