Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on September 2013

Gerhardt Steidl calls himself a printer, but this doesn’t even begin to describe him. For 40 years he has meticulously handcrafted some of the most elegant books on the planet. This insightful TV doc unobtrusively observes the sought-after, fiercely determined artisan as he globe-hops to discuss book strategy with leading artists, authors and photographers like Gunter Grass, Robert Frank, Ed Ruscha, Jeff Wall and Karl Lagerfeld. Even a Qatari emir. He’s concerned with how a book feels and smells; how it sounds when the pages are turned. Digital takeover? I don’t think so. A few parts in German.