First Person Singular: I. M. Pei (1997) explores the remarkable work and life of Ieoh Ming Pei (1917–2019), one of the most revered architects of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Complementing the M+ Special Exhibition I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture, the film takes viewers on a journey through Pei's eventful life, from his formative experiences in Suzhou, where he cultivated a fascination with time through the study of the city's renowned rock gardens, to his family's relocation to Shanghai and his subsequent move to the United States to pursue his architectural studies. It also touches upon his friendships and professional relationships with modernist luminaries like Alvar Aalto, Marcel Breuer, Jean Dubuffet, Walter Gropius, and Henry Moore.

First Person Singular: I. M. Pei celebrates Pei's ambition, creativity, talent, and humility, highlighting his commitment to forging his own path and continually refining his craft. The charismatic Pei serves as a cheerful tour guide, leading viewers through his architectural masterpieces like the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, the Miho Museum in Kyoto, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, and the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, among others. The film captures the essence of Pei's work, illuminating how his elegant buildings embody a sense of lightness, joy, and an undeniable connection to the human experience.

The screening on 14 July will be followed by a talk by M+ Curator of Design & Architecture, Shirley Surya, and moderated by M+ Assistant Curator of Moving Image, Francisco Lo. This talk will be held in English.

Peter Rosen (b. 1943, United States) is a filmmaker with an extensive body of work spanning over 40 years. He has produced and directed more than 100 feature films and television programmes that have received global distribution and garnered awards at major film festivals. Rosen's films cover a diverse range of subjects, from music and performing arts to history and human-interest stories. Besides I. M. Pei, he has collaborated with creative figures like Leonard Bernstein, Yo-Yo Ma, Stephen Sondheim, and Martha Graham.