Remembering Arthur

Arthur Lipsett became an important name, especially in Canada, after his short "Very Nice, Very Nice" was nominated for an Oscar in 1961. That made him a filmmaker to be supported by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). Through the use of segments from his shorts, footage of himself, and interviews with people who knew him well, this documentary covers many of his life important moments. As he ages, we see a creative mind descending into inward looking eccentricity due to mental illness. The film makes the ending feel foreordained. He buys a rope. Suicide.

Three interviewees are particularly important: one of Lipsett's girlfriend, Judith Sandiford, and two bosses at the NFB, Robert Verall and Colin Low. Those interviews and others are nicely woven together to form a compelling narrative of an original but troubled artist.