Directed by Ali Ray (UK, 2023, 90 min.).

Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss is one of the most recognized and reproduced paintings in the world. Painted in Vienna around 1908, the evocative image of an unknown couple embracing has captivated viewers with its mystery, sensuality, and dazzling materials ever since it was created. But what lies behind the appeal of the painting, and who was the artist that created it? Delving into the painting’s many details—including the use of real gold, decorative designs, symbolism, and simmering erotica—this documentary takes us to Vienna at the turn of the 20th century—when a new world was battling with the old. From the director of Frida Kahlo and Mary Cassatt: Painting the Modern Woman comes a powerful, gripping and passionate new film.