First Person Singular: I.M. Pei (USA/Canada)

(90 min; 1997; English)
Director: Peter Rosen

Beginning as a commercial architect in New York City after emigrating from China in the 50s, I.M. Pei gained attention when his proposal for the John F. Kennedy Memorial was selected over others from high-profile peers of the 60s. Construction never happened when Robert Kennedy was assassinated, but in the intervening years, Pei has designed some of the most beautiful, striking buildings around the world.

Peter Rosen's excellent documentary on the quintessential 20th Century architect – inspired by the systems of order from the family rock garden in China, to modern construction techniques – Pei's designs are catered to the needs of each client, and the building's functionality, but Rosen's film is more than a graceful journey through some of Pei's best-known buildings.