IN THE COMPANY OF MEN and WEALTH OF A NATION (1969)
Directed by William Greaves
52 minutes
Commissioned by the United States Information Agency to produce a documentary on freedom of speech, director William Greaves profiled several artists–including avant-garde sculptor Lee Bontecou, free-jazz trumpeter Bill Dixon, and futurist architect William Katavolos–to explore how audacious self-expression can move a society toward higher ideals. Even in this short industrial-film format, Greaves draws on virtuoso camera work and lyrical montage to communicate a signature theme: the deeply reciprocal relationship between creative individuals and their communities.