Maestà, the Passion of Christ

In 1308, the workers for the Duomo of Siena commissioned from Duccio di Buoninsegna a monumental Madonna in Majesty featuring saints and, on the other side, the Passion of Christ. Although, throughout the 18th century, the work was dispersed and broken- up, the cycle representing the Passion remained intact. With real technical prowess, Andy Guerif reinvents Duccio’s masterpiece with Life: a User’s Manual by Georges Perec in mind, shooting with volunteers every Sunday for seven years, thus staging not only the painting, but also the laborious production process behind the painting itself. The narrative system that runs through the 26 panels is taken up by the director with extremely precise direction, but also “disturbed” by a gratifying Tatiesque postmodern comic touch. Maestà thus succeeds in tracing an unexpected and brilliant line between the majestic 14th century polyptych, the performing arts and contemporary film. An unclassifiable, unique and stunning work.

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