Kubrick's Factotum

This documentary should please Kubrick fans, who are always eager for more insight into the working process of the director, arguably one of the greatest filmmakers in living memory.

It’s an anecdotal documentary, a series of tales told by Kubrick’s longtime factotum, Emilio D’Alessandro.

It’s such a treat to see inside Kubrick’s mind, his daily struggles with detail and exactitude, both in art and in life. He maintained large estates and these were filled with animals Kubrick had charitably taken in (even a donkey that was going to be put down). The animals were clearly loved and treated well.

There was a note (one of thousands Kubrick had scrawled to Emilio over many years) that hit a nerve. It was a note worrying about the possibility of fire at the director’s estate. Should such a tragedy occur, Kubrick explained, Emilio was to put the cats in one car and the dogs in another and to transport them to the neighboring estate. If you’re the owner of several cats, you’ve doubtless had this nightmare play out in your head and probably come to the same conclusion and makeshift solution. I’ve had this same “cats in the car” nightmare before.

About those notes: Emilio has apparently preserved every single note Kubrick ever scrawled or typed on the back of an envelope or piece of scrap paper. These notes are featured throughout the documentary. Kubrick was apparently a very demanding but very kind and generous employer, and one senses that the respect Emilio held for Kubrick was reciprocated. Clearly, a friendship arose from this close working relationship. When Emilio’s son was gravely injured, Kubrick offered to pay for his child to see one of the best doctors in London at the time.

Emilio’s devotion to Stanley strains credulity at times. It was a 24/7 job. Like Kubrick himself, the man was a workhorse and a marvel of efficiency. He really sacrificed his own family life for Kubrick. Doubtless, this helped Kubrick focus on his art. So arguably Stanley helped improve Kubrick’s art. And he gave three years notice when he did finally decide it was time to get back to family life. Three. Year’s. Notice. Imagine.