Hot Docs 2011 recap

So, all in all, my Hot Docs 2011 experience was very successful. I attended 12 screenings (and only didn't get into one - well, there was a second one, but I didn't get there until after it had started) and enjoyed all of the movies that I watched.

1. POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold
2. Jig
3. Boy Cheerleaders
4. Conan O'Brien Can't Stop
5. Love Arranged
6. Becoming Santa
7. People in White
8. The Hollywood Complex
9. El Sicario, Room 164
10. Family Portrait in Black and White (screened with Hand to Toe: An Exploration in the Art of Giving)
11. The Interrupters
12. Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey

There were a couple more that I had really wanted to see, but maybe they'll get released in theatres, or I'll have a chance to see them at another festival or venue.

As per usual, all of the Hot Docs folks were fantastic and it was nice to meet some people while waiting in those rush lines or even in the theatre as we waited for the screenings to start.

Can't wait for the next film festival!

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey

Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey (official website here) is a film about puppeteer Kevin Clash. Among other characters, Kevin is the voice and physical presence behind Elmo.
The film follows typical big-budget documentary protocol: background, character profile, inspirations, breakthroughs, interviews with various family members, friends, other constituents and a cameo or two (Whoopi!) the continued journey and the beginning of a new cycle with how Kevin's giving back and inspiring the next generation.
Of course the story was great, but I really liked learning about the art of puppetry. I really liked watching Kevin practice and coach other puppeteers. It's also interesting to watch how he 'creates' a character. And I'm not just talking about the part with needle and thread. The little nuances are amazing. Even watching them together on-stage for interviews or appearances...it really in like Elmo (or whatever character he's portraying) is alive. When all the attention is on the puppet, the attention really is on him/her/it. Kevin's focus is right there, his emotion is right there. Or focused on who the puppet is interacting with. And then the moments when Kevin and the puppet are interacting with one another. That's amazing too. It's so natural. And then when Kevin's in the spotlight, for example when Kevin's being asked a question in an interview, you can see that Elmo (or whoever) turns his attention to Kevin and listens as the audience does. Or even when Elmo's taking a break and not being manipulated as Kevin responds, I don't know if it's intentional or not, but Elmo just happens to look like he's sitting casually with his head leaning fondly on Kevin's chest or with his head cocked up so that he's looking in Kevin's direction. That interaction is amazing.
I had desperately hoped that there would be a Q&A for this film. Who doesn't love Elmo and how could you not be in awe of Kevin's talent and story? I watched a couple videos on the film's website and they are so wonderful. I wanted to see Elmo get tickled in person. Or give some sort of witty response to a question from the audience. Oh well, can't have them all.
It was a great film, again, because of the subject matter. I am, however, holding this film to higher standards. As a big budget film, I just expect more for some reason. Is that unfair? I mean, the film is narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, so it kinds of sets it apart from many of the other films that are at Hot Docs. The amount of archive footage that was available and included was incredible. I'm glad it was included because it enriched the film, but again, different category. So that being said, it was a good film, but not amazing. It's an amazing story and they were able to express that in the film, but the subject matter is amazing on its own so I don't think that they needed a lot of help there.

- picture courtesy of www.beingelmo.com

The Interrupters

The Interrupters (official website here) is a film about three "violence interrupters" working with the CeaseFire organization in Chicago. Each of the interrupters have street credibility as a result of their life experiences.
Given the subject matter, I was pretty amazed at how much of an inside look we got into the world. There were a couple choice shots where faces weren't in the screen, or other images were fuzzed out...but we did see violence, we saw tense moments and we saw confrontations.
In the Q&A with director, Steve James, we also found out that there were many more scenes that couldn't be included in the film. That the crew were asked to step back from certain moments during shooting based on the situation. I do wonder if their presence did help in certain situations. Steve seemed to say no, because the characters are so emotionally involved with whatever they're doing that they basically forget about the crew.
I was absolutely mesmerized by the interrupters ability to communicate with members of their community. The way that they were able to use verbal and physical language was incredible. I was amazed by their courage and strength.
This documentary clearly focused on a couple positive/success stories that the interrupters were involved with. Sure, each story did have challenges and those involved still have their issues that they need to battle, but holistically, I believe them to be success stories. I was wondering if telling these specific stories provides a well-rounded and complete picture of the work that they do, but with a subject matter such as this, it seems obvious that the work they do is challenging so for something like this, what's the point on dwelling on the negative stuff? Might as well focus on the great stuff they do and look at the optimistic components of their work.
So, did I like this film? Yes. Most likely because of the content and the characters/stories that they decided to follow. Each are compelling (the interrupters and the folks that they work with) and great to watch. There are so many issues that are raised and of course it really tugged on my educator/mentoring heartstrings.

Mental note: I need to watch Hoop Dreams.

- picture courtesy of www.interrupters.kartemquin.com

Hand to Toe: An Exploration in the Art of Giving

Hand to Toe: An Exploration in the Art of Giving was a short film screened with Family Portrait in Black and White. From the Hot Docs website:
Once a week, Yellowknife’s Salvation Army transforms itself into a makeshift spa, offering pedicures, wool socks and a kind touch to those most in need. As neglected feet are cleaned, massaged and cared for, a greater connection is explored in this empathetic film celebrating the virtues of compassion.
I thought that this was great. Most of the shorts that I've seen are just artsy, kind of weird things that I don't really get - in fact, there was another one that I saw during the festival that I've completely forgotten about and didn't bother writing up. In general anything that somehow gets me emotionally, I tend to gravitate towards. Short film or not. Anything that involves compassion is a quick way to win my vote.
Although the synopsis of the film uses the term "spa", and describes features that could be seen as indulgent, I wonder if there's any parallel to foot washing traditions in religion contexts. As the Salvation Army is a Christian organization, it wouldn't be surprising.
Regardless, I really did just see it as a chance for those who use the facilities to have a moment of pampering. A moment that most of these people enjoy and deservedly so. A simple joy that doesn't take much time or effort but goes a long way.
I love the idea of it and I love the film itself. While you're able to eavesdrop of some conversations, the film is almost entirely comprised of feet. Worn-out and tired feet enjoying the moment. It's amazing because although they say the eyes are the windows to the soul, I felt like I could read a lot just from watching these feet. I got a sense of the history of these people. I got a sense of the weight that the feet have been carrying. I could see the feet exhaling.
I always have ideas for little things that I want to to make a difference. I do something different each year. I hope I don't forget about and have the courage to follow through with my most recent one.

- picture courtesy of www.hotdocs.ca

Family Portrait in Black and White

Family Portrait in Black and White (official website here) was my favorite movie of Hot Docs.
While all movies that I watched were good and fulfilled my interpretation of what a documentary should do (investigate/shed light on a specific subject matter), some were what I've been calling surface-level films where they just kind of show what's going on but don't somehow have an extra oomph to them. Now, I could just be seeing them as 'good, but generic' because of the amount of knowledge I already have about the subject matter, but I think it has more to do with the emotional involvement, cinematic prowess or the film's ability to have me keep thinking about what's going on in the movie. Like most people, I like watching shows/films/productions that have a clearly organized resolution at the end so that you walk out feeling a sense of closure, but this film didn't give this and that's precisely why I enjoyed it so much.
I think the Hot Docs' synopsis is a good one:
It can be dangerous to be black in post-Soviet era Ukraine, a country peopled by 99.9% blue-eyed blonds. Olga Nenya faces down age-old xenophobia as she fosters 23 abandoned children along with her own, including 16 bi-racial orphans, in a ramshackle house in a small Ukrainian town. At first their lives seem like an idyllic United Colors of Benetton ad: love and affection from Olga, swimming trips to the lake, playing with chickens, goats and cats, going to school and doing chores in the garden and house. But as the film progresses over three years, a more layered and psychologically disturbing portrait emerges. Olga plays favourites and picks on kids who contradict her, and strict Soviet-era ideas about child rearing stymie their opportunities and abilities. Fresh from its Sundance premiere, Julia Ivanova brings festival audiences a rich observational portrait of a woman who wants to save the children from an unjust world—her way.
As they say, everything seems very sunshine and rainbows as Ms. Nenya takes in these orphans that need a loving home, but as the film continues you really see that there's more to it. Some good, some questionable, it's hard to determine where you stand with her decisions and the situation as a whole when the foundation of it all is love and good intentions.
We watch the family members interact, we see how they are perceived in their community, we are given a context for the world the live in, we hear from the mother and many of the children. We hear about hopes and dreams for the future.
Julia Ivanova (director) and Boris Ivanov (producer) were in attendance for this Canadian premiere. I'm so glad that there was a Q&A for the film and wish that it could have gone on longer. It allowed me to realize that I wasn't the only one who had confused thoughts...from audience members to even the filmmakers themselves. Julia shared that she was inspired to make this film after reading about the family in a newspaper article (a lot of the films that I watched were inspired by a newspaper article) and they were shooting, she slowly uncovered that the story was more complex than she had thought it would be. As a result, she felt like she was creating a film to try to better understand the family and a way for her to sort through the mixed emotions that she had towards Ms. Nenya. I can't figure out what made it so powerful, but yeah, it was good. I think it was the way that the film flowed. Setting the context, showing the good, getting you hooked, and then blam-o! Something to throw you off. Even her conscious decision of the final message of the film by her choice for the final storyline was well done.
When asked if the family had seen the film, I was a little taken aback by the response. Julia said no, but she does plan to show the film to them in the near future. Only, it will be a different version. She intends to have a different cut where certain interviews and implications are left out. Ones that may show Ms. Nenya in a negative light. She doesn't want there to be any negative ramifications towards the children as a result of watching the film. She was a little concerned that the version that the public sees will get to the family. Well, specifically, Ms. Nenya.
I usually only reflect on the content of films and sometimes will take notice of the production itself, but this information reminded me of issues surrounding the medium and art-form itself. Is the purpose of documentaries to shed light on a topic? To give a complete picture rather than tell a story through a specific lens? How much influence does/should the filmmaker have on the subject itself? Does the fact that the film was made change the natural path of the subject? What are the ethical/moral implications of filmmakers as they make their film? Serious stuff.
Anyway, if it wasn't obviously, I would highly recommend this film.

- picture courtesy of www.familyportraitthefilm.com

El Sicario, Room 164

El Sicario, Room 164 is a film about a former hitman. Based on an article from Harper's written by Charles Bowden (if you have a subscription, chick here...if not, click here) the film was basically an interview with the man. I really liked the added touch of the notebook and marker that he used to illustrate and emphasize points. Most of the film took place in a motel room where the sicario did some of his work. To break up interview and transition between stories, there were moments of black and silence or simple shots of Mexican life.
We learned about the cartel, how they work, who they recruit, Mexico and the corruption, sicarios and their trade. It was both intriguing and horrifying at the same time.
This one would have been really cool to have a Q&A. To find out logistics of making the film. To find out what became of the notebook. Ah well. I always wonder if there's a way to find out which screenings are scheduled to have a representative from the film present. I guess premieres have a higher chance of having someone in attendance.
I thought this film was great because of the content. As I said, it was fascinating learning about something that you're really not supposed to know about. From first-hand experience. And again, the notebook thing was really cool too. He used it very effectively. I was thrown off by the sicario's final saving grace. I didn't read the Harper's article before watching the movie, so I wasn't expecting it.

- picture courtesy of www.hotdocs.ca

The Hollywood Complex

The Hollywood Complex (official website here) is a film about the yearly migration of children and their families to Hollywood for pilot season.
I thought that it would be a film about over-crazed parents really pushing their children to succeed, but it was quite the opposite. Sure, it's a bizarre world, but the stories that were told showed that it is the children who are driven to land that big (or not so big) role. The families that surround the children are very supportive. Some are sweet, caring parents just trying to learn the ropes (and sometimes getting conned in the process), others are a little overzealous in their attempts to help their child reach their goal.
Directors Dan Sturman and Dylan Nelson were available for a Q&A and gave an update of one of the more memorable children from the film. Actually, the final credits does a great job of letting audience members know where the children are at now. The film had just been completed a couple days before the festival so the updates were pretty, well, up-to-date.
I thought the film was just okay. The families that were followed were interesting and gave the audience a good variety of experiences. The film also let us into the world of pilot season, the sometime sketchy world of showbiz and the famous Oakwood Apartments and the many services that they offer to their tenants. I did enjoy it but it wasn't anything more impressive than many other films that I've seen.

- picture courtesy of www.thehollywoodcomplex.com

People in White

People in White was the most artsy films that I watched during the festival. I missed the director's introduction of the film, which could have potentially helped better prepare me for the film that I was about to watch. It's not that the premise was difficult to understand, it was just the style and pacing that was different from typical documentaries that kind of made me confused. It was almost feature film-esque in its approach.
So, the director wanted to hear from clients of mental health care facilities about their experiences. And of course, given the topic it was a little heavy. And of course, keep in mind that basically all of the films that I'd seen in the festival so far were comedies and/or uplifting.
The film was a series of vignettes acting out memories of the patients, interspersed with them sitting in a circle (like they were sitting in a circle sharing their memories) starting and ending the narrations of their memories. The vignettes were acted out in a mental health care facility and the sharing sessions took place there as well.
My biggest confusion was who was playing what role. Some vignettes seemed to have another participant acting out the narrator's experiences as the patient him/herself and then the narrator would act out the role of the mental health care worker. Other times, it was two participants that would act out the scene and then the narrator would be separate. At the beginning, you're not introduced to who's who in the film, so I wasn't actually sure if maybe it was the filmmakers who were playing the mental health care professionals and the participants were acting our their own memories. And there were moments that different professionals would do mini-soliloquies. So I was confused.
The end credits are great though. I don't want to tell you about them, because I'm hoping that you'll watch the film.
I think the premise of the film was interesting, but I have to say that I didn't learn much from the film. Usually, I think of documentaries as educational films of sorts and this one really just seemed like a feature film version of true story. Does that even make sense?
I think the film was a little too bizarre for me. It was cool to see and I don't regret watching it, but I don't think that it's my favorite movie of all time.

- picture courtesy of www.hotdocs.ca

Darn it!

Hot Docs released its People's Choice Award top ten and the winner was the movie that I wanted to see the most, but didn't get a chance to see due to conflicts with prior commitments.
Darn it, darn it, darn it!
Still, I can't really complain. I ended up seeing 12 films for free (unless you count the cab ride to one of the screenings). I don't think any of the films that I saw were misses. All of them were pretty great, actually.
I've written about a couple of them, but hopefully in the next little while, I'll get around to the rest of them.
My favorite of the lot (which I haven't written about yet) was Family Portrait in Black and White, which also won an award.

Becoming Santa

Becoming Santa is definitely a feel-good movie. Winner of the Audience Award from this year's South by Southwest film festival, the documentary stars Jack Sanderson and follows his preparations to become Santa Claus for the first time. The film not only shows him getting fitted for a custom Santa suit, going to Santa school, meeting happy and not-so-happy children, and being the guest of honour at a parade but also introduces us to many different Santas and other stakeholders in Santa-world.
It's pretty incredible. Regardless of whether or not you believe that Santa exists, this film emphasizes the human spirit. As the synopsis on the hotdocs site says, the film is "part first-person exposé and part cultural history", but if there was someone who left the screening thinking that there wasn't a little bit of "Santa" within each of us...well, then I would think that their heart is made of coal. And for those of you who don't watch the film, I can tell you that you also have a Santa within you.
"Santa Jack" (I liked how all of the folks we met in the film who were Santas were, well, "Santa-whoever" when not Santa Claus) was in attendance (he was producer and writer) and we were happy to learn a little bit more about the Santa-world. I never really thought of the fact that there would probably be a need for Santa-agencies with Santa-agents!
Although in the film, Jack says that this is a one time experiment, he was happy to report that this season would be his third season in the business.
A great film.

- picture courtesy of www.hotdocs.ca

Love Arranged

Love Arranged is a film by Soniya Kirpalani about two girls looking for love in India. Each is in their late twenties, is well educated with good jobs. They are self-assured but single. Each had tried going the love marriage route, but have not come up with anything. At their age, they are getting antsy and this film follows them as they attempt to go the arranged marriage route.
I thought this film was quite good. I liked learning about a different culture, their approach to and outlook on things, traditions and for it to reinforce just how difficult it is to navigate through this thing called love.
The Q&A with Soniya was interesting as well. She gave us her perspective on things, tried to explain a non-Western perspective and even brought onstage a potential suitor for her own daughter. The story was quite interesting. Her daughter wanted her to bring a boy back from Toronto and daughter even had contact information for a potential match. Soniya met the boy and his family upon arrival, they seemed to hit it off, and the boy (maybe I should say young man/gentleman) and his parents attended the screening and were brought on stage to be introduced to the audience. Interesting.
I left the screening full of thoughts. Thoughts that I don't want to share on this blog, but thoughts that represented a mixture of emotions. Some comforting, some worrisome.
I liked the film, but it's not my favorite that I've seen.

- picture courtesy of www.hotdocs.ca

Conan O'Brien Can't Stop

Conan O'Brien Can't Stop (official website here - when I wrote this post, the link redirected you to facebook page) is a film about Conan O'Brien post-NBC and pre-TBS. Basically, it shows him deciding to do a touring show, preparing for the touring show, and doing the touring show.
You could say that this is just a film version of the touring show and I would compare it in structure to Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie, with a little less backstory about the main character. I didn't like the David Suzuki doc (although the rest of the audience did as it won a People's Choice Award), but I managed to enjoy the Conan doc. I suppose when the content and subject in the film is funny, it helps make the film more interesting to watch.
That being said, it's not like the film is amazing. I enjoyed it, but again, it was a very surface-level film. The name of the film eludes to the fact that Conan can't stop performing or working, or whatever, even if he's legally restricted in what he's able to do, and there is a little mention of this in the film, but again, when it comes down to it, the film is more about finding ways to tie together snippets of his touring show.
Sure, through interviews and eavesdropping on him during non-show times, I was able to better understand the man, but it was a balance between the show and the person rather than being a character investigation. Maybe that was the point.
An enjoyable film, but I'll bet that it won't stand out from the rest.

- picture courtesy of www.hotdocs.ca

Boy Cheerleaders

In a UK dancing-themed day, after seeing Jig, I watched Boy Cheerleaders.
The documentary follows an all-boy cheerleading team as they prepare for their National Championship competition. Again, not a novel concept for a film, however unlike Jig, I felt as though this one fell short. Again, we got to know a couple of the boys on the team, their stories, their sacrifices, their families, their hopes and dreams, but with this one, I will say that I thought that it was an on-the-surface film.
With both films, it was clear that the intention was to create a film about people. Sure, we get to know about each sport, but it's the people and their stories that the filmmakers are really interested in (Sue Bourne said it herself in the Q&A for Jig). So, for Boy Cheerleaders, one particular part of the boys' stories that could have been further examined was the fact that each of the boys that were followed (not everyone on the team was followed) had no father figure in their lives. Each of them were raised by a single mother and each of those mothers comment on their own struggles growing up. Although it was eluded to, I would have thought it would be interesting to delve a little bit more into how this team helps the boys find their footing, and if/how the male coach of the team provided a positive male influence to them.
That being said, it wasn't a horrible film. It was cute. It did everything that a film should do, but of course I'm so demanding and critical that I wanted more (especially after just having seen Jig).
I wished the director, James Newton, was in attendance for a Q&A, but that didn't happen. This film would also be a great one to have a follow-up about. There was a mini pay-off at the end of the film, but a real follow-up would have been better. And since I felt as though so many of the characters in the film had so many challenges in their lives (sorry, it's the educator in me coming out), I really yearned for that follow-up. I suppose the director did a good enough job that I felt connected to the characters, or maybe you can say that he didn't do a good enough job that I was left unresolved. You could argue either way.
So, a nice film. Something that I would watch if it was playing on TV (it did in the UK), but probably not buy a ticket to watch on the big screen for wide-release. I did enjoy the section about "facials". Oh, the world of cheerleading...

- picture courtesy of www.hotdocs.ca

Jig

After an unsuccessful Rush attempt to see El Bulli - Cooking in Progress (note: After failing at two Rush attempts for food docs - last year, I didn't get into Kings of Pastry - I need to remember that Torontonians are more fanatical about food than I thought), I was back on track with Jig.
Jig (official website here) is a film about the world of Irish dancing and follows various competitors as they prepare for the World Irish Dancing Championships. It's not a novel idea for a documentary (following competitors and learning about their sport/families/etc.), but apparently Irish Dancing is notorious for not allowing cameras and stuff like that into their world.
I LOVED this doc. I know nothing about Irish dancing (well, I know a couple steps and some of the superficial stuff about the outfits and such), so I didn't have that extra investment in the movie. Of course, I can relate as someone who has a passion and someone who's prepared for important competitions, but I would think that most people who have something sort of similar (even if not on the same scale). I thought the director, Sue Bourne, did a great job at picking a variety of dancers and really getting to understand their personalities, their stories, the whole bit. A common sentiment that I have about documentaries is that they're too on-the-surface, but although I can't figure out what this film did more than the others, I really thought that this one gave me as much of the story as I wanted. I wasn't left wanting more. I thought the timing, the weaving, the depth, the pay-off, it was all really really great.
I also loved the music. I don't know if most people notice music during movies, but I do, and I seem to comment on it quite often. I remember thinking that, of course the Irish music was very suitable and enjoyable in general, but that it was well timed and the type of music selected for each section was perfect. And as the credits rolled, one name stuck out. Patrick Doyle. A-ha. Kudos.
In the Q&A, Sue Bourne mentioned how fortunate she was to snag Patrick. She couldn't afford him, but had asked him to recommend someone. He watched the film, loved it, and then signed himself on instead. She was also able to give updates on all of the characters of the film (the doc leads up to the 2010 Worlds and the 2011 had just taken place a month ago) and they were good stories. I won't tell you, because you have to watch the film first.
Anyway, needless to say, I would highly recommend this film.

- picture courtesy of www.jig-the-film.com

POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

Hot Docs is underway!
Once again, I've decided to go budget and take advantage of the free daytime screenings for students. There are plenty of films that I want to see, and more than enough to fill the free time that I have outside of my regular day-to-day commitments during the festival. There is one film, however, that I'm particularly interested in seeing that I can't attend during the day. So depending on how I feel, I might end up buying a ticket for the evening screening of the film.
As a Student or Senior, any screenings before 6pm are free. The catch is that you can only get tickets the day of. So, if the film has already gone Rush, you need to wait in that Rush line. I'm not opposed to it, but it just means being prepared for it.

Today, I Rushed POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (official website here).
In this documentary, director Morgan Spurlock (of Super Size Me fame - I still haven't watched this film) makes a film about product placement and corporate partnerships with product placement and corporate partnerships.
It was a nice, lighthearted movie to get the festival started. Unfortunately, Morgan wasn't in attendance for the screening (he was at the screening last night - this was the festival's opening film) as he needed to be back in New York to continue to promote his film.
This film actually appeared on my radar after seeing his appearance on the Conan Show. On the show, he talked about the premise of the show while wearing a custom-made sponsorship suit, accompanied by a small pony. The punchline of the pony involvement was probably my highlight of the film itself.
As for a review of the film, well, I thought it was okay. I enjoyed it, I laughed out loud, but it was a relatively on-the-surface documentary. I wasn't surprised by anything that I saw, but I'm not sure that it was meant to be anything more than that. There was a nice mixture of advertising spots and documentary, and of course the whole product placement aspect of the film. I admit that I got a little bit of product placement fatigue by the end of the film. The punchlines were so obvious that it wasn't annoying per se, but by the end, I kind of wished that he had somehow taken it to the next level. I mean, for the first while the audience would chuckle anytime there was product placement on the screen, but by the end, there wasn't much of an audible response, and I would think that as a filmmaker, you want to have your film build towards the end, and although there was a small payoff there (yes, a very predictable one), the meat of it kind of fizzled in my opinion.
Again, that's not to say that it was a bad film. I laughed, and that's probably the most important thing. I do think that he did a good job of poking fun at the whole idea. I also kind of wish that he somehow made more of the final credits (although there are a couple great moments there too). I do like how he weaved in his process of putting together the film as well as the obligatory doc-type interviews with notable/credible people in the field. Maybe not the "Greatest Movie" I've ever seen, but it still works. The concept is pretty hilarious and witty in itself, so it can't help but be good.
Oh, and on the way out, we got a small bottle of POM Wonderful.
Nice.

- picture courtesy of www.sonyclassics.com/pomwonderfulpresentsthegreatestmovieeversold