A New Short-Film: ‘The Duomo’ Brings Us Great Art and Inspiration

US, Australia Could ‘Disconnect’ If Victoria’s Belt and Road Partnership Presents a Risk: Pompeo

The U.S. Secretary of State says the United States will “simply disconnect” with Australia if the Victorian state’s Belt and Road partnership with Beijing presents any risk to telecommunications infrastructure. Mike Pompeo told Sky News on May 24 that the United States was keen to continue working with Australia on security and that it was a “great partner,” but it needed to prioritise the safety of its own telecommunications network. “We will not take any risk to our telecommunications infrastructure, any risk to national security elements with our Five Eyes partners. We are going to protect and preserve the security of those institutions,” he said. “I don’t know the nature of those (Victoria’s) projects precisely, but to the extent they have an adverse impact on our ability to protect telecommunications from our…

The founding father of Renaissance architecture, Florentine architect Filippo Brunelleschi, crowned Florence’s skyline forever when he built the dome for Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (St. Mary of the Flower Cathedral), commonly known as the Duomo. On Aug. 7, 1420, Brunelleschi began the incredible engineering feat of creating an octagonal dome about 108 feet high with no external support. On Aug. 30, 1436, the dome was complete, and a symbol of the Italian Renaissance spirit was forever set in stone.

“The Duomo,” a new documentary, focuses on how Brunelleschi came to imagine, design, and build Florence’s iconic cathedral dome. The recently released documentary, just under nine minutes, is the first in a planned series of inspiring short films by the New York-based team of filmmakers Inspired Original. The aim of each film is to honor the achievements of the world’s great artists who stayed true to traditional art and values.

According to their website, the Inspired Original team cherishes the “universal values inherent in traditional art.” The team consists of filmmakers, producers, writers, artists, and designers dedicated to creating content that reinvigorates those virtues to support traditional arts, culture, and education. Inspired Original believes that creating such content can instill hope and faith for future generations.

Inspired Original has succeeded with this effort. The filmmakers have done just what the Renaissance masters did when they looked to ancient Rome: They have sought out the best examples of art to show to the world.

In this first documentary, American narrator Monsignor Timothy Verdon takes us into the heart of Brunelleschi’s Florence to the Duomo. Verdon is the perfect guide: Not only has he lived in Italy for some 50 years, but he’s also an art historian, Roman Catholic priest, and canon of the Florence cathedral. He also directs the diocesan office of sacred art and church cultural heritage, and the cathedral museum.

A New Short-Film: ‘The Duomo’ Brings Us Great Art and Inspiration

As he narrates, Verdon’s voice quietly commands us to contemplate the majesty of the great cathedral and look up to Brunelleschi’s greatest artistic achievement. Verdon’s impassioned storytelling is interspersed with beautiful shots of both the inside and outside of the Duomo as he walks through the cathedral or looks up in awe into the dome.

Brunelleschi’s story of making his glorious dome is a tale full of perseverance, confidence, and above all, faith in God. The documentary begins with the artist’s defeat: He decided to become an architect after he lost a sculpture competition to make the doors for Florence’s Baptistery. Brunelleschi lost to Lorenzo Ghiberti, and the pair became lifelong rivals.

Actors in Renaissance dress delightfully portray Brunelleschi and those in his life as he studies the buildings and monuments of ancient Rome, and show how he entered (and won) the biggest architectural competition with an egg—you’ll have to see the documentary to find out how!

The lessons Brunelleschi learns are not just about art but also life. Verdon says that Brunelleschi endured scathing criticism throughout his career and many times wanted to give up, but he kept going. Although not quoted in the film, Brunelleschi, in an exchange of sonnets, wrote: “When hope is given us by Heaven, . . . we rise above corruptible matter/and gain the strength of clearest sight. … “

“The Duomo” is a thoughtful and thought-provoking documentary, in which the beauty of Brunelleschi’s architecture is perfectly balanced with appropriate storytelling alongside stunning cinematography. It may just be a hymn to traditional architecture.

To watch “The Duomo,” or to find out more about Inspired Original, visit InspiredOriginal.org

Focus News: A New Short-Film: ‘The Duomo’ Brings Us Great Art and Inspiration

Tear Gas Fired as Hong Kong Protesters Return to Streets Against China’s ‘National-Security’ Law

Protesters did not obtain police approval, given the city’s social distancing rule, which prevents gatherings of more than eight people, is still in place until early June to prevent the spread of the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. Before the march could start, a large number of police officers were seen gathering in Causeway Bay, including patrols at the local metro station where they stopped people for inspection. Police fired the first shot of tear gas at around 1:30 p.m. local time outside of the local shopping mall Hysan Place in Causeway Bay in an effort to disperse protesters. The first arrest was made about 20 minutes later. A protester dressed in black is handcuffed by the police at Hennessy Road in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, on…