Brilliant Fever is a poetic homage to W. Eugene Smith and his massive photographic study of Pittsburgh from the 1950’s, one of the most ambitious projects in photographic history. Using lyrical sequences of Smith’s pictures, his own recorded words, and original music Brilliant Fever interprets the grandest, yet unfinished project of this legendary photographer’s career.
In March of 1955 W. Eugene Smith went to Pittsburgh for a simple, three-week assignment to create one hundred photographs for a book commemorating the city’s bicentennial. Instead, Smith embarked on a 4-year odyssey in which he made 17,000 photographs of the city and attempted to create a photo-essay that would set new standards in photography. But Smith’s visual symphony of Pittsburgh was never published in a manner he deemed satisfactory. He wrote, “Four years of my greatest work is now my greatest wreckage.” He left behind a stunning set of master prints and blueprints for his kaleidoscopic essay of the city.
Brilliant Fever presents the pictures that Smith said were “a synthesis of the whole” Pittsburgh project, displayed in sequences influenced by Smith’s original intentions. Moreover, Brilliant Fever captures Smith in his own voice, discussing this work, in film and audio recordings presented publicly for the first time.
Movie – 26 minutes
Extra features – 50 minutes