Documentary Edge Festival 2011
On now until March 6, some of the best docos from here and worldwide are on display for your enjoyment.
There's a whole batch of stuff to get through - but here's just a selection.
Stand Up: This doco traces the birth of stand up in lil ole New Zealand, following the players who helped shape the industry and give it the character it has now. There's plenty of character in this - as well as the oooh, look at them when they're young factor. It's a great peek into the comedy psyche as well as a tantalising look into what motivates someone to risk heckling. The fly on the wall approach, coupled with some candid interviews, shows why Kiwi comedy is in rude health.
Chandani: Touted as the elephant equivalent of Whale Rider, there's certainly plenty of parallels in this. Chandani's a girl who wants to be an elephant whisperer, a tradition ruled by males. But with an eye on achieving her goal, Chandani manages to make in roads. There's a naïve charm to this doco but some may be surprised by how the bond between elephants and humans sit - an interesting insight into this world which informs as well as entertains.
Leave Them Laughing: A no holds barred look at how one American comedienne Carla Zilbersmith coped with the onset of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and the effect it had on those around her. The tone for the doco is set by the opening line to a crowd: "I have a fatal illness which means global warming is your problem" - there's a candidness to it which is disarming and when it falls apart for Carla, each blow is crushing and some (inevitable) bitterness sets in. But there's also a heart warming appeal to this piece which reminds you to seize the day as you walk out.
Darwin: What is it about small towns in America and their populace? This latest takes a look at Darwin, an isolated community at the end of a weathered road in Death Valley, California which 35 people call home. The doco tells of their lives, arguments, quarrels and characters - and is endlessly interesting and intriguing in equal measures. Every small town minutiae is uncovered here - from arguments over fire hydrants to divisions - but by giving the residents space to breathe, there's plenty to enjoy here.
The People vs George Lucas: An unabashed exploration of what makes a Star Wars fan so rabid in their love of the old and hatred of the new. This mightily impressive and amusing doco looks at the effects George Lucas had on so many when he "unlocked a generation's imagination" when he released the original trilogy back in 1977. It also follows the hatred which grew with the special edition releases which many fans feel "raped their childhoods." With interviews with fans, archive footage of Lucas explaining why he did what he did and conspiracy theories over the double standards he employed, this joyous doco for fans and fandom itself is brilliant from beginning to end. It's not just about the fan fervour though - it cleverly looks at how a filmmaker can be trapped by his own dreams and choices - and how he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. What's most impressive about this piece though is how your loyalties swerve sensibly from Lucas to the fans - and you're never quite sure whose side you're on. It's also well worth watching to see the fan made films throughout which range from the utterly crappy to the utterly brilliant.
