Robert Wilson and the Civil Wars(1987)

Robert Wilson and the Civil Wars is a documentary following avant-garde theatre director Robert Wilson as he races to stage an epic twelve-hour multinational opera, The Civil Wars: A Tree Is Best Measured When It Is Down, for the 1984 Summer Olympics. Filmmaker Howard Brookner captures Wilson's struggle against funding shortfalls, grueling schedules and constant international travel. The film reveals Wilson's distinctive visual approach to theatre—one rooted in painting and image rather than literary convention. His process weaves movement, sound, text and image into evocative stage designs, often pushing actors toward bold minimalism while collaborating with non-traditional performers. Wilson's meticulous, painterly aesthetic challenges orthodox theatrical traditions, creating a singular vision of what opera can be.