Pele de vidro – Skin of Glass
Denise Zmekholin
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Denise Zmekholin
In terms of area and population Brazil is one of the largest countries in the world. The country’s architecture became well-known in the 1960s with spectacular buildings designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer. Photographs of them were widely circulated and published, also abroad. Through them the country was known to be looking towards brighter and more democratic times.
Director Denise Zmekhol’s father, architect Roger Zmekhol (1928−1976), emigrated from the Middle East to Brazil via Paris and through his work helped to raise the flag of modernism and optimism. One of the buildings he designed, a 24-story glass and metal office building that was considered incredibly tall at the time, was the true pride of São Paulo. It was even given the name: Pele de vidro. It means skin of glass.
The relatively recent and award-winning film Skin of Glass by the director who has moved to California, beautifully tells the story of the daughter and father. Denise lost her sunny and talented architect father, who had also supported her daughter, at the age of 14. The film is like a journey to find out what has happened to her former homeland and the shining office building designed by her father. She had heard that it had recently been taken over by entire homeless families. Before that, the building had also been considered and designed for a new and dynamic use by younger architects.
The director stated the following in his interview: "The film tells a story that I think is universal because it’s about a search by a daughter for her father, AND his art, via a building he designed as an architect."
This film is by no means the only story about an architect father and his work or entire life’s work in recent years; Ark Rex has previously presented, among others, a film about the late Eric Saarinen’s own father, Eero Saarinen. Louis Kahn’s son Nathaniel has also made an exceptionally stylish film about the masterful architect who died unexpectedly of an illness.
As a film, Skin of Glass is a different film in that, in its own way, the director goes to search for his own father, once again. In addition to the building that features in the main part, it also sheds light on Brazil's political history and recounts the events that have influenced the changes in the purpose of the tower that always has sparkled in the sun. The building, which represented the best European glass and metal technology of its own time and was used as an office, was later taken over by the brutal military regime that interrupted democratic development. After the following political and other changes, it ended up being left completely empty.
Politics had even become entangled in education during the military regime: the regime also influenced the teaching of architecture on the university level, dismissing professors and replacing them with those it liked. When power finally changed, young architects from as far away as Paris had a proposal for using the building for a completely new purpose. The international financial crisis of 2008 destroyed the excellent project.
The financialization of real estate that has been rampant in various parts of the world in recent years and the resulting sharp increase in housing prices, as well as the plight of people forced to work as cheap labour, are also strongly visible in the rapidly growing metropolis of São Paulo. The film, which is skilfully filmed on location and even includes documentary and news media material, conveys a very strong message.
The film touches on many of the problems of our time without underlining them too much, and talks about people who, even in the case of the tower block, have wanted to profit from the plight of others. Equally, we also get to meet ordinary citizens who have become victims of circumstances. They have not completely lost hope, even in the most hopeless moments.
The gallery of people also includes those brave people who, through the intelligent strategies they have developed, have helped the homeless move into many empty buildings in this city of millions. The aim is to make the change and takeover so that the occupation of the houses is also safe for the residents in every way, because any empty building is not suitable for occupation as such and without changes. Unfortunately, among the "helpers" there have been people who only pursue their own interests, just as among politicians, there have been parties who have no desire or interest in influencing the affairs of the weakest in their society. The far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, who was still in power in 2022, was one of them.
The film, completed in 2023, has won several awards and has been screened at many international film festivals.
Director Denise Zmekhol’s father, architect Roger Zmekhol (1928−1976), emigrated from the Middle East to Brazil via Paris and through his work helped to raise the flag of modernism and optimism. One of the buildings he designed, a 24-story glass and metal office building that was considered incredibly tall at the time, was the true pride of São Paulo. It was even given the name: Pele de vidro. It means skin of glass.
The relatively recent and award-winning film Skin of Glass by the director who has moved to California, beautifully tells the story of the daughter and father. Denise lost her sunny and talented architect father, who had also supported her daughter, at the age of 14. The film is like a journey to find out what has happened to her former homeland and the shining office building designed by her father. She had heard that it had recently been taken over by entire homeless families. Before that, the building had also been considered and designed for a new and dynamic use by younger architects.
The director stated the following in his interview: "The film tells a story that I think is universal because it’s about a search by a daughter for her father, AND his art, via a building he designed as an architect."
This film is by no means the only story about an architect father and his work or entire life’s work in recent years; Ark Rex has previously presented, among others, a film about the late Eric Saarinen’s own father, Eero Saarinen. Louis Kahn’s son Nathaniel has also made an exceptionally stylish film about the masterful architect who died unexpectedly of an illness.
As a film, Skin of Glass is a different film in that, in its own way, the director goes to search for his own father, once again. In addition to the building that features in the main part, it also sheds light on Brazil's political history and recounts the events that have influenced the changes in the purpose of the tower that always has sparkled in the sun. The building, which represented the best European glass and metal technology of its own time and was used as an office, was later taken over by the brutal military regime that interrupted democratic development. After the following political and other changes, it ended up being left completely empty.
Politics had even become entangled in education during the military regime: the regime also influenced the teaching of architecture on the university level, dismissing professors and replacing them with those it liked. When power finally changed, young architects from as far away as Paris had a proposal for using the building for a completely new purpose. The international financial crisis of 2008 destroyed the excellent project.
The financialization of real estate that has been rampant in various parts of the world in recent years and the resulting sharp increase in housing prices, as well as the plight of people forced to work as cheap labour, are also strongly visible in the rapidly growing metropolis of São Paulo. The film, which is skilfully filmed on location and even includes documentary and news media material, conveys a very strong message.
The film touches on many of the problems of our time without underlining them too much, and talks about people who, even in the case of the tower block, have wanted to profit from the plight of others. Equally, we also get to meet ordinary citizens who have become victims of circumstances. They have not completely lost hope, even in the most hopeless moments.
The gallery of people also includes those brave people who, through the intelligent strategies they have developed, have helped the homeless move into many empty buildings in this city of millions. The aim is to make the change and takeover so that the occupation of the houses is also safe for the residents in every way, because any empty building is not suitable for occupation as such and without changes. Unfortunately, among the "helpers" there have been people who only pursue their own interests, just as among politicians, there have been parties who have no desire or interest in influencing the affairs of the weakest in their society. The far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, who was still in power in 2022, was one of them.
The film, completed in 2023, has won several awards and has been screened at many international film festivals.
Denise Zmekholin
In terms of area and population Brazil is one of the largest countries in the world. The country’s architecture became well-known in the 1960s with spectacular buildings designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer. Photographs of them were widely circulated and published, also abroad. Through them the country was known to be looking towards brighter and more democratic times.
Director Denise Zmekhol’s father, architect Roger Zmekhol (1928−1976), emigrated from the Middle East to Brazil via Paris and through his work helped to raise the flag of modernism and optimism. One of the buildings he designed, a 24-story glass and metal office building that was considered incredibly tall at the time, was the true pride of São Paulo. It was even given the name: Pele de vidro. It means skin of glass.
The relatively recent and award-winning film Skin of Glass by the director who has moved to California, beautifully tells the story of the daughter and father. Denise lost her sunny and talented architect father, who had also supported her daughter, at the age of 14. The film is like a journey to find out what has happened to her former homeland and the shining office building designed by her father. She had heard that it had recently been taken over by entire homeless families. Before that, the building had also been considered and designed for a new and dynamic use by younger architects.
The director stated the following in his interview: "The film tells a story that I think is universal because it’s about a search by a daughter for her father, AND his art, via a building he designed as an architect."
This film is by no means the only story about an architect father and his work or entire life’s work in recent years; Ark Rex has previously presented, among others, a film about the late Eric Saarinen’s own father, Eero Saarinen. Louis Kahn’s son Nathaniel has also made an exceptionally stylish film about the masterful architect who died unexpectedly of an illness.
As a film, Skin of Glass is a different film in that, in its own way, the director goes to search for his own father, once again. In addition to the building that features in the main part, it also sheds light on Brazil's political history and recounts the events that have influenced the changes in the purpose of the tower that always has sparkled in the sun. The building, which represented the best European glass and metal technology of its own time and was used as an office, was later taken over by the brutal military regime that interrupted democratic development. After the following political and other changes, it ended up being left completely empty.
Politics had even become entangled in education during the military regime: the regime also influenced the teaching of architecture on the university level, dismissing professors and replacing them with those it liked. When power finally changed, young architects from as far away as Paris had a proposal for using the building for a completely new purpose. The international financial crisis of 2008 destroyed the excellent project.
The financialization of real estate that has been rampant in various parts of the world in recent years and the resulting sharp increase in housing prices, as well as the plight of people forced to work as cheap labour, are also strongly visible in the rapidly growing metropolis of São Paulo. The film, which is skilfully filmed on location and even includes documentary and news media material, conveys a very strong message.
The film touches on many of the problems of our time without underlining them too much, and talks about people who, even in the case of the tower block, have wanted to profit from the plight of others. Equally, we also get to meet ordinary citizens who have become victims of circumstances. They have not completely lost hope, even in the most hopeless moments.
The gallery of people also includes those brave people who, through the intelligent strategies they have developed, have helped the homeless move into many empty buildings in this city of millions. The aim is to make the change and takeover so that the occupation of the houses is also safe for the residents in every way, because any empty building is not suitable for occupation as such and without changes. Unfortunately, among the "helpers" there have been people who only pursue their own interests, just as among politicians, there have been parties who have no desire or interest in influencing the affairs of the weakest in their society. The far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, who was still in power in 2022, was one of them.
The film, completed in 2023, has won several awards and has been screened at many international film festivals.
Director Denise Zmekhol’s father, architect Roger Zmekhol (1928−1976), emigrated from the Middle East to Brazil via Paris and through his work helped to raise the flag of modernism and optimism. One of the buildings he designed, a 24-story glass and metal office building that was considered incredibly tall at the time, was the true pride of São Paulo. It was even given the name: Pele de vidro. It means skin of glass.
The relatively recent and award-winning film Skin of Glass by the director who has moved to California, beautifully tells the story of the daughter and father. Denise lost her sunny and talented architect father, who had also supported her daughter, at the age of 14. The film is like a journey to find out what has happened to her former homeland and the shining office building designed by her father. She had heard that it had recently been taken over by entire homeless families. Before that, the building had also been considered and designed for a new and dynamic use by younger architects.
The director stated the following in his interview: "The film tells a story that I think is universal because it’s about a search by a daughter for her father, AND his art, via a building he designed as an architect."
This film is by no means the only story about an architect father and his work or entire life’s work in recent years; Ark Rex has previously presented, among others, a film about the late Eric Saarinen’s own father, Eero Saarinen. Louis Kahn’s son Nathaniel has also made an exceptionally stylish film about the masterful architect who died unexpectedly of an illness.
As a film, Skin of Glass is a different film in that, in its own way, the director goes to search for his own father, once again. In addition to the building that features in the main part, it also sheds light on Brazil's political history and recounts the events that have influenced the changes in the purpose of the tower that always has sparkled in the sun. The building, which represented the best European glass and metal technology of its own time and was used as an office, was later taken over by the brutal military regime that interrupted democratic development. After the following political and other changes, it ended up being left completely empty.
Politics had even become entangled in education during the military regime: the regime also influenced the teaching of architecture on the university level, dismissing professors and replacing them with those it liked. When power finally changed, young architects from as far away as Paris had a proposal for using the building for a completely new purpose. The international financial crisis of 2008 destroyed the excellent project.
The financialization of real estate that has been rampant in various parts of the world in recent years and the resulting sharp increase in housing prices, as well as the plight of people forced to work as cheap labour, are also strongly visible in the rapidly growing metropolis of São Paulo. The film, which is skilfully filmed on location and even includes documentary and news media material, conveys a very strong message.
The film touches on many of the problems of our time without underlining them too much, and talks about people who, even in the case of the tower block, have wanted to profit from the plight of others. Equally, we also get to meet ordinary citizens who have become victims of circumstances. They have not completely lost hope, even in the most hopeless moments.
The gallery of people also includes those brave people who, through the intelligent strategies they have developed, have helped the homeless move into many empty buildings in this city of millions. The aim is to make the change and takeover so that the occupation of the houses is also safe for the residents in every way, because any empty building is not suitable for occupation as such and without changes. Unfortunately, among the "helpers" there have been people who only pursue their own interests, just as among politicians, there have been parties who have no desire or interest in influencing the affairs of the weakest in their society. The far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, who was still in power in 2022, was one of them.
The film, completed in 2023, has won several awards and has been screened at many international film festivals.
Skin of Glass, 2023. Denise Zmekhol. 90 min.
