Merchant Ivory

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Merchant Ivory

Released Aug 30

1h 52m

Documentary

Biography

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95%

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37 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

MERCHANT IVORY (2023) is the first definitive feature documentary to lend new and compelling perspectives on the partnership, both professional and personal, of director James Ivory, producer Ismail Merchant and their primary associates, writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and composer Richard Robbins. Footage from more than fifty interviews, clips, and archival material gives voice to the family of actors and technicians who helped define Merchant Ivory’s Academy Award-winning work of consummate quality and intelligence. With six Oscar winners among the notable artists participating, these close and often long-term collaborators intimately detail the transformational cinematic creativity and personal and professional drama of the wandering company that left an indelible impact on film culture.

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Critics Consensus

An insightful glimpse into James Ivory and Ismail Merchant's relationship as well as a warm celebration of their artistic collaborations, Merchant Ivory is an invaluable treat for fans of the filmmaking team.

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Claudia Puig

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

I found it very interesting... Definitely a celebration of both their successful careers and lasting love and partnership.

Sep 16, 2024

Full Review

Leonard Maltin

leonardmaltin.com

Not every documentary about filmmaking successfully dives beneath the surface as this one does. But then, few subjects are as rich or as deep as that of Ismail Merchant & James Ivory. In short they were one-of-a-kind. Make it a priority to catch this one

Sep 3, 2024

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Matt Zoller Seitz

RogerEbert.com

As an official certification of the team’s significance, this documentary does the job, though there are times when it feels like a very good (and handsomely produced) box set supplement.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 2, 2024

Full Review

David Parkinson

Radio Times

Perceptive contributions from Vanessa Redgrave, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant and Helena Bonham Carter, this admiring profile may not win over many converts. But it will delight fans of Merchant Ivory's distinctive and deceptively acute pictures.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 13, 2024

Full Review

Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

In a word, their films were classy, bringing a taste of high-brow culture to the movie screen and thus to towns all over America.

Rated: 8/10

Nov 12, 2024

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Rachel Wagner

rachelsreviews.net

If you are a fan of their films than I'd recommend Merchant Ivory. It's a solid entertaining documentary and worth your time.

Sep 24, 2024

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Steve

Thorough documentary on how Merchant Ivory made films and insight into independent film making. Lots of commentary from those who participated in the films. James Ivory is main interviewee. Even handed including some of the less rosy aspects of their productions. And even a glimpse into the interpersonal relationship amongst the four that made the magic happen onscreen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/16/24

Full Review

Darius

Im a huge fan of Merchant Ivory films from the Maurice through Remains of the Day period-and this documentary gave such a great overview of all their work from the 1960s to early 2000s and I had no idea of their output I also loved the insight into James Ivory, Ismail Merchant and Ruth Jhabvalas relationship.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/08/24

Full Review

Paul

Lovely portrait of not just Merchant and ivory themselves, but also of the group that worked together to create significant films

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/02/24

Full Review

Jeffery M

Absolutely wonderful, insightful look at remarkable careers and behind the scenes of some of the best films of all time.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

08/29/24

Full Review

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Stephen Soucy

Director

Emma Thompson

Self

Helena Bonham Carter

Self

Vanessa Redgrave

Self

Hugh Grant

Self

Stephen Soucy

Writer

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Merchant Ivory: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

MERCHANT IVORY (2023) is the first definitive feature documentary to lend new and compelling perspectives on the partnership, both professional and personal, of director James Ivory, producer Ismail Merchant and their primary associates, writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and composer Richard Robbins. Footage from more than fifty interviews, clips, and archival material gives voice to the family of actors and technicians who helped define Merchant Ivory’s Academy Award-winning work of consummate quality and intelligence. With six Oscar winners among the notable artists participating, these close and often long-term collaborators intimately detail the transformational cinematic creativity and personal and professional drama of the wandering company that left an indelible impact on film culture.

Director: Stephen Soucy
Producer: Stephen Soucy, Jon Hart
Screenwriter: Stephen Soucy, Jon Hart, Stephen Soucy, Jon Hart
Distributor: Cohen Media Group
Production Co: Modernist Films
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 30, 2024, Limited
Runtime: 1h 52m

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