Watch S Is for Stanley

S Is for Stanley, directed by Alex Infascelli, is a moving and intimate documentary that presents the extraordinary story of Emilio D'Alessandro, a man who worked as Stanley Kubrick's personal assistant for over three decades. The movie is a tribute to the friendship that developed between the two men during the making of some of the most iconic movies in cinema history. Through a series of interviews and archival footage, the director invites the viewer to embark on a journey through the life and career of one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, seen from the perspective of his closest collaborator.

The movie starts with Emilio D'Alessandro, an Italian driver and mechanic, recalling how he first met Stanley Kubrick in the late 1960s. D'Alessandro was working for a British producer who had hired Kubrick to shoot some commercials in Italy, and he was asked to assist the director during the shoot. From that moment on, a special bond was formed between the two men, and D'Alessandro became Kubrick's go-to guy for everything from driving him around to running errands and performing emergency repairs on the set.

As we follow D'Alessandro's reminiscences, the movie takes us through Kubrick's most famous movies, including 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, Barry Lyndon, and The Shining. D'Alessandro provides fascinating insights into Kubrick's creative process, describing how the director would spend months researching every aspect of a movie, from the costumes and props to the music and lighting. He also reveals little-known stories about the making of the movies, such as how the famous hal 9000 computer in 2001 was actually made out of a cardboard box and some lights.

The documentary also explores the more personal side of Kubrick's life, presenting him as a man who was fiercely private and deeply devoted to his family. We see footage of Kubrick's home in the UK, where he lived with his wife, Christiane, and their three daughters, and hear D'Alessandro's recollections of spending time with them. We also learn about Kubrick's love of chess and his habit of playing long games with D'Alessandro in between takes on the set.

Throughout the movie, D'Alessandro emerges as a warm and engaging presence, with a natural charisma that makes him a joy to watch. He speaks with affection and admiration for Kubrick, whom he clearly regarded as a genius, but also as a friend. There are moments of sadness in the film, particularly towards the end when we learn about Kubrick's death in 1999, and how D'Alessandro struggled to cope with the loss of his mentor and friend.

Despite its somewhat narrow focus on D'Alessandro's experiences with Kubrick, S Is for Stanley manages to paint a vivid and compelling portrait of one of the most enigmatic figures in cinema history. The movie feels like a labor of love, a tribute to a man who left an indelible mark on the medium of film. Infascelli's direction is subtle and unobtrusive, allowing D'Alessandro's stories to take center stage, while the use of archival footage and interviews with other people who knew Kubrick help to fill out the picture.

In the end, S Is for Stanley is a poignant and deeply human movie that celebrates the power of friendship and the importance of following one's dreams. It's a must-see for fans of Stanley Kubrick, but also for anyone who loves movies and wants to gain a better understanding of the creative process behind them. It's a film that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled, and that's a testament to the enduring legacy of the man whose life it celebrates.