Reality's Invisible (1972): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1972, Reality's Invisible is a documentary film directed by Robert Fulton, running about 53 minutes.

What it’s about. Fulton made the film during his brief time at Harvard, where he had been invited to teach by Robert Gardner, his friend and collaborator (Fulton would later serve as a cinematographer on Gardner’s 1981 documentary Deep Hearts, among others). Reality’s Invisible could be described as a portrait of the Carpenter Center, yet it is a portrait of an extremely idiosyncratic and distinctive sort. Fulton moves us through the concrete space of the Center’s Le Corbusier-designed building—the only structure by the architect in North America—but, more centrally, presents us footage of students making and discussing their work alongside figures like Gardner, theorist Rudolf Arnheim, artist Stan Vanderbeek, filmmaker Stan Brakhage, and graphic designer Toshi Katayama.

Who’s in it. Reality's Invisible stars Rudolf Arnheim as Himself, Stan Brakhage as Himself, Robert Fulton as Himself (voice) and Robert Gardner as Himself, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.2/10, Reality's Invisible has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Reality's Invisible page.

If you liked it. Fans of Reality's Invisible tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.