Nam June Paik: Moon is the Oldest TV

Released Mar 24, 2023

1 hr. 49 min.

Documentary

Biography

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30 Reviews

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A chronicle of the life and times of Nam June Paik, a pillar of the American avant-garde in the 20th century, widely regarded as the father of video art, who coined the phrase "Electronic Superhighway," and is arguably the most famous Korean artist in modern history. Features readings of the artist's writings by Executive Producer Steven Yeun (Minari, Nope).

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Critics Consensus

If it makes a somewhat incomplete argument on behalf of its subject, Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV is suffused with the visual energy that pulsed through his pioneering art.

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$aul Clem Green

The first one to come out as a video Artist in a time when painting was a huge part of the art industry. Highly regarded by the public as one of the greatest artists ever to emerge from obscurity to fame. TV experimental research in sound design early video production pushed to a new level. This a movie about how the brain can change its perception of reality by using the newest technologies of the time. Therefore it is possible for a person to experience reality through their eyes or through their own experience in real world situations in which upright posture can change perception in brain of an individual.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/18/23

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StephenPaul C

The greatest 01 hour: and 49 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Real footage.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/12/23

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robert o

American Master? Pfui! Junk program, worth perhaps 20 minutes on the Nightly News Hour as some historical footnote. The real story is the back story, why NYC art critics went for this lonely loser expat from South Korea and went back on their original devastating reviews of this character along with his loser topless cellist "I have a Master's Degree from Julliard" who has her own story of adult attention seeking and never sustained a serious career in music. This story probably will never be told and is likely and gratefully lost. Put Rockefeller Foundation money behind any obscure artist self obsessed "artist", give him technical help in the thousands and you will often likely find a few interesting pieces. The real story probably centers on the man's upbringing by a doting mother, creating a man-child who is intent on recreating his self-centric childhood in the larger art world of NYC, where there's always an interest in the avantguard, the exotic, the foreign, the obscure waiting to be "discovered." And my god PBS, can't you show a couple unimpressive breasts of this self-seeking "artist" cellist without obliterating the visual with your Victorian inhibitions? You choose to feature such transgressiveness, and yet are slavishly prudish. Such a contradiction. I only watched an hour, mostly because my local museum wasted money on one of the topless cellist TV sculptures, and memories of a LIFE magazine cover featuring her topless with propellers attached to her breasts.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/18/23

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Amanda Kim

Director

Nam June Paik

Self

Steven Yeun

Narrator

Jennifer Blei Stockman

Producer

David Koh

Producer

Amanda Kim

Producer

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Nam June Paik: Moon is the Oldest TV: Trailer 1

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Hanna Flint

Time Out

This is a wide-reaching, kinetic and vibrant documentary.

Rated: 4

May 23, 2023

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

This very enjoyable film explores his extensive body of work, much of it daringly ahead of its time...

Rated: 4/5

May 21, 2023

Full Review

Kevin Maher

Times (UK)

Yes, the documentary is structurally formulaic and a tad Wikipedia-y, but Paik’s eccentric provocations are so fascinating that they distract from the lack of invention elsewhere.

Rated: 3/5

May 19, 2023

Full Review

Helen Hawkins

The Arts Desk

This stunning film makes Paik both understandable and an art-world luminary who really deserved the title “genius”.

Rated: 5/5

May 23, 2023

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Edward Porter

Sunday Times (UK)

The film’s lucid account has visual energy without gimmicks.

Rated: 4/5

May 19, 2023

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Andrew Murray

The Upcoming

[T]ruly fascinating stuff,

Rated: 3/5

May 18, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

A chronicle of the life and times of Nam June Paik, a pillar of the American avant-garde in the 20th century, widely regarded as the father of video art, who coined the phrase "Electronic Superhighway," and is arguably the most famous Korean artist in modern history. Features readings of the artist's writings by Executive Producer Steven Yeun (Minari, Nope).

Director: Amanda Kim
Executive Producer: Brandon Chi-Wei Chen, Fab 5 Freddy, Michael Kantor, Alexandra Munroe, Florence Sloan, Steven Yeun, Kenzo Digital, Steve Jang
Distributor: Greenwich Entertainment
Production Co: Curatorial, Octopus Originals, Lone Palm Films
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 24, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 13, 2023

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