Helvetica

...is your standard talking-heads documentary, only this time the subject is the world’s most popular font. Don’t be deceived by the seemingly dull subject or it’s well-worn genre. Directed by Gary Hustwit, Helvetica reveals the origins of the eponymous typeface, the modern typographic industry (yes, there’s a whole industry), and how astoundingly prevalent the use of Helvetica is. The film succeeds in revealing a fascinating world of graphic design and the even more fascinating people in that industry while informing us about the cool side of typographic design. Helvetica is a much appreciated relief from the rash of preachy shockumentaries (Fahrenheit 9/11, The Corporation) and the cheeky mockumentaries of the past ten years or so, and a return to the educational, yet entertaining variety of docs that are more reminiscent of the BBC’s recent Planet Earth series. Although the wonders of typography await the graphically uninitiated, according to sources in the graphic design industry, it doesn’t reveal anything new.

Good - because it's educational.

Directed by Gary Hustwit