«This electrifying portrait shows in all its nuances the extent to which (Hirschhorn) takes Gramsci at face value. (…) We are presented with an artist who is infinitely demanding and at times even ruthless, but all in the service of an art that is the antithesis of patronizing – and which for this very reason becomes a political act, and a slice of social utopia as well. This is made all the more obvious when a (white) visitor expresses her doubts about the «Gramsci Monument» with a degree of cultural arrogance: If she views the neighborhood residents in this way, she has to ask herself whether they would even have access to Gramsci’s concept of hegemony. This woman did not understand what it means to make art political. She should watch this film.»
Florian Keller, WoZ, Zurich

«With «Thomas Hirschorn - Gramsci Monument», Basel-based filmmaker Angelo A. Lüdin has succeeded in crafting an astonishingly sensitive film about an uncompromising artist. (…) Lüdin’s camera gathers together the most disparate moments, approaches each person involved with the same care and respect. (…) The unexpected moments are therefore also the film’s most exciting and beautiful ones. Like when one of the residents, after searching for the right word for what he wants to describe, triumphantly says «Philanthrop» into the camera. Or, at the end of the film, when two elderly women wearing white fabric hats list off what Hirschorn has taught them about Gramsci. As well as mentioning how they would now have the time to organize the notes they would have taken everyday so that they could pass these on to their children and grandchildren at a later date.And you realize that Hirschhorn has really managed to create something special here.»
Karen N.Gerig, TagesWoche, Basel

«Director Angelo Alfredo Lüdin, cameraman Pio Corradi and editor Miriam Krakenberger have succeeded in making a film that entertainingly illuminates the «Gramsci Monument» adventure. They do not offer their own commentary. (…) The film is neither a glorification of Thomas Hirschhorn nor does it take him apart»
Sabine Altorfer, Nordwestschweiz, Aarau/Basel

 

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