Stanley Kubrick’s Final Film and the Question of Control

Manca Perko focuses on an often-overlooked aspect of Kubrick’s work, namely collaboration with a specific focus on the postproduction of Eyes Wide Shut which is particularly interesting given how many believe the film was left unfinished. By focusing on Eyes Wide Shut’s post-production, Perko considers the input of other external collaborators including graders, editors, and the laboratory that processed the film to reassess and problematize the authorship of the film. Her essay raises important questions regarding the question of authorship which are especially salient given how Kubrick has such a reputation for total control, unlike other filmmakers who routinely receive the ‘auteur treatment.’