Helvetica is a documentary about the font and it pretty evenly splits people before they see it between those who say, “a documentary about what?” and “cool!” I fall into the latter category and was fascinated with a look at the most popular (and legible) font in the world. It looks at the history and use (and misuse) of the typeface, but it’s really about design and designers and it’s fascinating to see the different approaches and philosophies of those who work with type. While it’s not for everyone, it’s essential if you are interested in or work with type.

http://rasml.org/?p=998

Like any really good documentary, Helvetica is about a lot more than its ostensible subject (the ubiquitous font Helvetica). In tracing its history and usage, the documentary covers the history of modern graphic design, the implications inherent in design, and its use in commerce. It’s very well-edited and paced, and the soundtrack is outstanding in its own right. Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in design.