Merrick here...
Here's a look at two documentaries that played SXSW. Both are radically different films, and both sound pretty great.
The films are AUTUMN'S EYES, about a little girl whose mom is in jail, and AWESOME: I FUCKING SHOT THAT -- an assemblage of videos made by sixty-something people at a Beastie Boys concert.
Check 'em out...
Hey guys! It's Film Chic again with a couple more docs that I saw at SXSW. It's slightly a strange combo to have together, but this just goes to show the amazing diversity and quality of films you can find at the fest this year. The first doc was something that I actually saw the other day. It's AUTUMN'S EYES.
This documentary was so incredible that every single person around me (including myself) was crying at parts. The story is told through the perspective of a four year old girl (Autumn) whose mother awaits a criminal trial. The family can't afford bail, so in much of the movie the mother is in jail awaiting her trial while Autumn lives with her grandmother.
The filmmakers were given total access to the family and were never once asked to turn off their cameras. We watch while the family doesn't have much to eat, while they lose their electricity (and the Jersey City nights get cold), while the grandmother gets hospitalized, while the family gets evicted, while Autumn's mother goes through several trials.
It's a touching and, at times, heart wrenching documentary that really needed to be made. I was happy that the filmmakers were able to tell the story so well and so even handed. This should have won at least something at the awards ceremony, but it didn't.
The next doc, which I saw tonight, is AWESOME: I FUCKING SHOT THAT.
This is a concert documentary of the Beastie Boys as they play Madison Square Garden, and it's done in such creative way. The show was sold out, so the band posted on their website that they needed to find about 60 people to hold video cameras and film the entire concert. From all of the people who volunteered, the band looked at a seating chart of the Garden and selected 61 people from all over the arena to be the honored camera people.
In the pre-concert introduction for all of the camera people, they are simply told that when the lights go out, they are to start recording. And they have to keep the cameras rolling until they're told to turn them off. They can dance and party, but the cameras are to stay rolling. And not only can they dance and party, but they can go to the concession stands, take a piss (hilarious), and even sneak backstage (apparently).
I've never been to a Beastie Boys show, but I've always wanted to go see them live. This doc made it seem as if I had indeed seen them live. The energy from the stage comes across on all of the gathered footage, as does the excitement of the audience. And it's pretty damn funny to see Ben Stiller rapping along with the Boys when one of the cameras finds him in the crowd.
Mike D, MCA, and Ad-Rock were in attendance for a Q&A afterwards, so I was quite glad to have my third row seat for that. They came across as funny and intelligent and ready to banter, even when the same questions were asked a few times. They didn't give in to the request to "go out with a song," but then maybe Austin will be lucky some time really soon and they'll play a few tunes while in town. Maybe...unofficially.
And now I must get at least a little sleep before I hit downtown early tomorrow (this) morning for more movies. Oh yes, and all hail Darkon!
