Kumu Documentary: The Power of Utopia: Living With Le Corbusier in Chandigarh / Kraft der Utopie ‒ Leben mit Le Corbusier in Chandigarh
Dir Karin Bucher, Thomas Karrer
Switzerland 2023, 84 min
In English and German, with English subtitles
Introduction by architectural historian Mait Väljas
When the architect Le Corbusier designed Chandigarh, he imagined a just city that would allow for harmonious interaction between its residents and the natural environment. His Utopian vision for the city came into existence 70 years ago at a time of unrest, resettlement and the partition of India. For some, it represented progress and a newly emerged democracy, but it remains unclear if Corbusier’s design was a success or a failure.
The directors Karin Bucher and Thomas Karrer’s The Power of Utopia follows four cultural producers in Chandigarh. As we accompany them through their lives and work, we discover what can be gleaned from attempts at Utopia.
