Film Review – At Berkeley

Education is under fire these days, with monetary concerns taking top priority at universities around America. Documentarian Frederick Wiseman, a filmmaker lauded for his spare style and observational approach, isolates the worry to a single institution, with “At Berkeley” exploring the debate and daily business for the venerated California campus, taking in the sway of life found on hallowed grounds. At 244 minutes, it almost lasts as long as an actual semester, yet the extended run time permits Wiseman to feel out the pressure put on school leaders and witness classroom activity, soaking up the brilliance at stake as budgets expand, leaving Berkeley scrambling to find a way to balance out the needs of faculty and students. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com