Reviews round-up

Samsara

This visually spectacular film directed by Ron Fricke documents phenomena from 25 countries across five continents. The title is the Sanskrit word for the continuous cycle of life.

Human life, the natural world and our relationship to it are explored through a macro-scale view that shows the world’s beauty and diversity.

But it’s also a comment on the madness of our society, with mass production shown alongside mass disposal. The film also exposes poverty and alienation. Samsara is out on 31 August,

Leonardo da Vinci: Anatomist

Leonardo da Vinci is best known as a magnificent Renaissance artist. But he was also an architect and engineer. His anatomical drawings give insight into the battles of his time.

They show a struggle to balance a fascination with science with extreme pressure to comply with the religious and superstitious ideas prevailing in the 15th century.

This exhibition is on at the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1A 1AA, until 7 October. Admission is £9.

Ludwig Guttmann: Father of the Paralympic Games

Ludwig Guttmann was a Jewish neurosurgeon who stood up to the Nazis in Germany. After fleeing to Britain in 1939, he developed treatment methods for injured soldiers, encouraging them to regain confidence through sport.

This became the root of today’s Paralympic Games. This exhibition explores Guttmann’s life and legacy. It runs at the Jewish Museum, 129-131 Albert Street, London NW1 7NB, until 16 September.

» Guttman and the Paralympic Games