EX LIBRIS – THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

Located on grand Fifth Avenue, the main branch of the New York Public Library is a place steeped in the symbolism of thought, knowledge and sharing. That’s where Frederick Wiseman takes us for his 42nd feature. From hushed reading rooms to lively debates, from dedicated librarians to management meetings, Wiseman looks into every corner, observing the library’s denizens with his customary rigour and insight. Beyond the library itself, he captures a state of intellectual excitement. In a place that seems to be the last bastion of social cohesion, arguments and discussions range freely, and the filmmaker takes advantage of that rich life to sketch a portrait of the United States and its current issues.