This year’s festival looks to be a really good one. I started off by catching an amazing documentary about little league baseball called SMALL BALL: A LITTLE LEAGUE STORY (d. Andrew Kolker, Louis Alvarez).  

In a time where professional baseball is in the gutter, where steroid use is so abundant that congress is looking to step in, it is great to see a film that catches the true spirit of baseball, ofAmerica’s favorite pastime. We follow the All-Stars from Aptos, California as they make their bid for the Little League World Series in 2002 (The year after the 15 year kid scandal).   

The mothers in this film also provide for some great segments. Their antics off the field and in the stands during games provide some needed relief from the struggles on the field.  

What stands out most about this documentary are the kids. These kids live out a dream only few will ever experience. Initial shyness from the cameras melts away as their season heads towards a nail-biting ending.  

The director described this film as the “complete opposite of Spellbound.” I understood what he meant, but it did have the same sort of feel to it. Both are wonderfully produced documentaries chronicling the lives of young children as they accomplish some incredible feats.  

Go see this one on the big screen if you get the opportunity, but if not, it is airing April 14th on PBS. For you SXSWers, it is screening again 3/17 at theParamount (Noon), and 3/20 at the convention center (3:00pm).  

RADIO REVOLUTION: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE BIG 8

Following up SMALL BALL, I saw a film documenting a hugely popular radio station nearDetroit called RADIO REVOLUTION: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE BIG 8. (d. Michael McNamara)  

The CKLW 50,000 watt station broadcasting fromWindsor, Canada changed popular radio as the world knew it. This film explains how the Big 8 came to such power, and how it ended all with new government in Canada.  

I would describe this film as a great “TV documentary,” one you would see on one of the higher digital cable channels. RADIO REVOLUTION is set up very much ready to go on television, with chapters defining the breaking points in the film.  

This is a very quick film, never lets you get bored with any one aspect of the film. I would recommend it if you are at all interested in the radio industry.   

After the screening I got a chance to talk with the director and he mentioned that they are almost ready to show the film on Canada TV, and are in talks with PBS to release it here in the states. Expect a DVD if PBS picks it up. By the way, this film boasts an astounding soundtrack.  

SXSWers, check it out on 3/18 at the Paramount (2:00pm), or 3/20 at the convention center (5:15pm).  

GOZU

To wrap the night up I caught GOZU (d. Takashi Miike) at the Drafthouse.  

Good god.  

This film is twisted as hell. It starts off with a small dog being beaten to death and then swung around by its collar before being slammed into a window. This movie is one seriously twisted piece. This film runs just over two hours, but it makes you pay for those two hours. If you do last through it, the final ten minutes or so ALMOST make it worth the wait.  

A strange, strange film, and unfortunately it is not screening again during SXSW, but I’m sure you can find it at your local non-chain video store.  

So, that wraps up my first day at SXSW this year. Hopefully tomorrow won’t be as rainy as today was. I’m going to try to see Greg Pritikin’s new film SURVIVING EDEN starring Peter Dinklage. Pritikin directed last years DUMMY which was terribly overlooked for distribution. It just came out on DVD though, so go check it out.  

Until tomorrow, this is Monki swingin’ out.