How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr. Foster? Review

It's becoming a hackneyed phrase, but this profile of Norman Foster is pure architectural porn. Valentín Álvarez’s camera swoops in chopper and crane shots to make jaws drop at the sleek beauty of bridges and buildings that have not only impacted upon the evolution, but also the ecology of design. Foster himself is a modest man, but the boy from a Manchester terrace clearly has the steel to match his passion, even though writer-narrator Dejan Sudjic would prefer to worship than analyse. Foster’s achievements are extraordinary, but the stories behind them aren’t always so compelling. Nevertheless, this is a visually striking tribute to an intrepid social utopian.