The History of Concrete Review: John Wilson’s Ruminative Documentary Is Blisteringly Funny and Deeply Moving

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In 2000, as digital cameras were becoming popular, French filmmaker Agnès Varda created The Gleaners and I. This documentary quickly became highly influential, and it’s notable for several reasons: it reflects on Varda’s own aging, experiments with a new way of filming, and focuses on the topic of leftover food. What’s truly remarkable is Varda’s ability to transform something as simple as discarded food into a thought-provoking and surprisingly complex work of art.

John Wilson approaches filmmaking with both a childlike wonder and the deep understanding of a seasoned thinker. His work builds on the style of Agnès Varda, exploring the connection between the small details of life and the larger world, as well as the personal and the public. While it’s presented as a playful critique of Hallmark movies, it’s actually, much like Varda’s The Gleaners and I, a thoughtful look at how we understand ourselves and our communities through everyday, often ignored things. In this case, that ‘thing’ is plastic – the second most used material on Earth.

John Wilson’s The History of Concrete is hilariously funny, as you’d expect from the creator of How To With John Wilson. But what’s truly surprising is how deeply moving and well-made it is – it’s one of the best documentaries in recent years. Watching it feels like drifting along a river, where everything feels both new and strangely predictable. It’s a unique experience, and it’s hard to imagine any other filmmaker blending philosophical quotes about Guy Debord with a strange Hollywood event celebrating Kim Kardashian.

The History of Concrete is a Miraculous Wonder

John Wilson stumbled into his project unexpectedly. While writers were on strike – largely due to concerns about the rise of AI – he saw that his union was offering a workshop on writing Hallmark-style movies. Around the same time, he inherited a building that was falling apart. For Wilson, a highly creative person, the solution quickly became clear: what if he made a documentary about concrete, but styled it like a low-budget romance? He hoped this unusual approach might attract funding.

That’s only a glimpse of what you’ll find in The History of Concrete. The film takes you to unexpected places, documenting quirky sights along the way. It follows the filmmaker to a concrete convention in Las Vegas, leads him to a peculiar business that preserves tattoos from deceased loved ones, and introduces us to Jack Macco—a rock musician who also sells liquor and is engaged to a pioneering New York City judge. Macco’s insightful and poetic thoughts on art are particularly captivating.

Throughout the work, Wilson thoughtfully explores themes of accountability, artistic innovation, and the relationship between art and money. He subtly argues against the overuse of AI, champions the importance of chosen families and strong friendships, and asks why artistic ideas are so often evaluated for their potential profit before they’re even given a chance.

While The History of Concrete isn’t about climate change, it explores how our focus on constant newness or romanticizing the past prevents us from appreciating what’s immediately around us. Just as his television work demonstrated the power of simple observation, this documentary reveals that paying attention to our surroundings can uncover rich and surprising histories.

The History of Concrete screened at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

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2026-01-23 13:08