There are 5 documentaries nominated for Best Documentary Feature, and I have watched and reviewed 4 of them (still waiting for The Gatekeepers, an interesting looking movie from the perspective of the past leaders of the Isreaeli anti-terrorism organization (Shin Bet), to be released, so that one will be a little delayed). In addition, I have watched 1 of the 5 nominees for Best Documentary Short (Inocente) -the only one currently available. As I am not all that knowledgeable about world issues (I know, shame on me), and don't pretend to be, and this is not a political blog, I will not comment on the accuracy of the documentaries or on the validity of the subject matter. I will simply be reviewing them as films, and on their effectiveness at capturing the interest of the viewer.
2012 5 Broken Cameras
This was an interesting documentary, and the filmmaker was very brave to capture the footage obtained. The material was filmed by a Palestinian olive farmer living in a village (Bil'In) that is being encroached on by Israeli construction. He and his fellow villagers peacefully (he claims, I was not there, so I am just basing this on what I saw) resist this construction, which the Israeli government declares unlawful, but Israeli soldiers support. It's pretty intense, as villagers are arrested, wounded, and killed. We get to know the filmmaker, Emad, and his family (his wife and four sons) over the five years that he films.
During this time, 5 of his cameras are destroyed (broken by soldiers or shot). Emad definitely put himself in danger to obtain the footage that he did, and it's quite raw. We see how hostilities are learned at an early age. Emad's youngest son, born at the beginning of the documentary, starts out completely pure, at one point even innocently handing one of the Israeli soldiers an olive branch, which is touching and hopeful. Later, after a very close friend of the family is killed, the little boy expresses a desire to hurt the soldiers because they hurt his "uncle." A sad progression. It's an intriguing film about a conflict that is still ongoing, and about the lives of the farmers living in Bil'In.
2012 How to Survive a Plague
How to Survive a Plague covers important subject matter (the fight to cure AIDS, focusing particularly on the efforts of the ACT UP organization); however, I cannot say that the documentary itself was very well done. It includes a lot of coverage of protests, and insider footage of ACT UP members debating what actions to take, without really telling a cohesive story or capturing the attention of the viewer. It would have benefited from a narrator, or from a central figure to make the story more personal and focused. Increasingly, the messages became hate-filled, which was off-putting. I could certainly empathize with the frustration and sadness of the activists, but telling government officials that they are murderers, and that their friend's soul will haunt them and curse them to their dying day...a bit out of control. They also put a lot of emphasis on finding a medical cure (specifically on speeding up the release of experimental drugs), and not enough on prevention, in my opinion. The best cure is to avoid contracting the disease in the first place. Of course the medicine is important as well, but until there is a real cure, there are ways to prevent infection. I think most certainly there are better documentaries out there. To be honest, I doubt this would even air on TV, as it was just not concise or gripping enough, which, considering the subject matter, is surprising and disappointing.
2012 The Invisible War
Now THIS was a powerful, emotion-evoking documentary. I cried twice. It is about rape within the military (of both women and men) -the prevalence, and the lack of action taken against persecutors. Multiple women are interviewed, and tell their stories, which are heart-wrenching and infuriating. While devastated by their attacks, many of them were even more traumatized by the treatment they received afterwards, when they tried to report the crimes and reach out for help. They were more often than not ignored, told that they had brought it upon themselves, accused of lying, or even counter-charged with conduct unbecoming or adultery (because their rapists were married). None felt that they had received justice (none of those interviewed, I am sure that there are commanders out there that do take action), and most were made to feel invisible and ashamed.
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| Trina McDonald (Right): “They made it very, very clear that if I said anything they were going to kill me.” |
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| Ariana Klay. Her husband, Ben, a fellow marine, broke down when recalling his wife's suicide attempt: “To call the police with one hand, while you’re restraining her from killing herself with the other…” |
The release of the documentary, as it states at the end, gave the push necessary to finally take the power away from unit commanders in determining courses of action in these cases. I went straight from watching the movie to checking out the website (notinvisible.org) to see how I could help. The documentary was extremely well done, and really got my attention and delivered a message. This is what How to Survive a Plague was missing -personal stories to really make you connect with the victims (I can tell you that the movie Philadelpha, a drama about AIDS, had me in tears, and How to Survive a Plague had me bored -striking an emotional chord is key if you want your message heard).
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| Hannah Sewell's father, Sergeant Major Jerry Sewell, tearfully reassures his daughter: “You’re still a virgin, ’cause he took something from you that you didn’t give.” |
2012 Searching for Sugar Man
Tyler didn't seem to like this one (though he was only sort of listening while I watched it on my computer), but I actually ended up finding it pretty interesting. It's about a singer/songwriter named Sixto Rodriguez, who released two albums that flopped in the U.S., but (unbeknownst to him) became huge hits in South Africa. Fans in South Africa wanted to track down information about the mysterious singer, who was rumored to have killed himself on stage. Eventually, they discover that he is alive and working construction in Detroit. They contact him, and he agrees to do a tour in South Africa. With the release of this documentary, he is now planning to release another album, and his previous albums are now available in the U.S. I actually downloaded his song I Wonder, as it keeps getting stuck in my head (forgive me, Tyler!). My biggest complaint: too many scenes of Rodriguez walking around outside for a long time while music plays. And plays. And plays.2012 Inocente
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| Inocente prefers to paint in bright colors. |
Inocente is finally able to get a living situation in a shelter without her family, where she can focus on her art and prepare for college (her show makes her a good chunk of money for her college fund), and I have high hopes that she will be successful in life, which she deserves after what she's been through. Her mom is not happy about her leaving, but finally agrees when a lawyer helps Inocente approach her. It is especially sad when Inocente's mom unexpectedly shows up at her art show (her little brothers in tow) and watches Inocente hugging the people who have supported her, unable to bridge the gap and embrace her daughter herself, which you can see in her face she longs to do. Worth watching.
They all sound pretty interesting, specially the one about the military. Wow! Thanks for sharing.
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