Wednesday, March 26, 2008

RIP Paul Arthur

Sad to report this morning the sudden passing of fellow Cineaste associate Paul Arthur, whose articles on documentary filmmaking were without peer. His last feature, on Power of Nightmares director Adam Curtis, ran in our Winter issue. Said editor Cindy Lucia, "Words can't begin to express the stunning sense of loss I'm sure we all are feeling--for the invaluably incisive film scholar and critic, the inspiring teacher, the loving father and steadfastly loyal friend we knew Paul to be." There is no softening this blow, felt as well at Film Comment, which he also contributed to. But I took some solace from the Contributors page in our Spring issue, which noted that he recently completed a book on Nick Broomfield, to be published by the University of Illinois Press.

Manohla Dargis contributed a fine obituary, in today's New York Times. There's also a touching death notice in the print edition.

1 comment:

Andrew M. Lampert said...

Paul Arthur was a gifted teacher of mine in the 1970s at Bard College. He taught me to find the "ominous fold in the underbelly of avant-garde portraiture." His contribution to my own thinking about experimental film was astronomical...and his ability to bring the margin into focus was creative and enduring. Rest well in peace professor...