SXSW ’08! Annette Kellerman On ‘BAMA GIRL, THE UPSETTER, And SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED!

Hey everyone. It's Annette Kellerman with my next round of reviews from the SXSW Film Festival.

'BAMA GIRL

'Bama Girl is a feature documentary about the annual homecoming queen elections at the University of Alabama. Winning the honor of homecoming queen at the college is an honor steeped in southern tradition. Each year, various campus clubs and organizations nominate 10-15 young ladies for the prestigious position, and the student body votes by secret ballot for their favorite. The top five comprise the homecoming court, and ultimately the gal with the most votes is crowned queen. The film focuses on one nominee in particular- a charismatic young black student named Jessica Thomas who has dreamed of winning the crown since her freshman year. Since that time, she has worked to make herself known on campus by joining various organizations and attaining many leadership positions along the way. While it is no news flash to Jessica that in the previous decades of the competition there have been only a handful of black women crowned, Jessica remains optimistic that her merits, hard work, and positive attitude will prevail. In an interesting twist to the story however, it is revealed that an unofficial entity on campus known as "The Machine" has pretty much controlled the outcome of the homecoming elections for years. The Machine is comprised of a secret society of all-white fraternities. Though no one knows exactly who they are or where they meet, each year The Machine endorses one candidate who is inevitably crowned. Despite such formidable competition, Jessica goes forward, campaigning and reaching out to those students not associated with any of the all-white fraternities and sororities, thumbing her nose at the racial barriers that unfortunately still exist in the deep south. 'Bama Girl is not just another documentary about race and social issues in this country. Director Rachel Goslins has also managed to deliver a fun, feel-good story of a young woman trying to achieve a goal. In addition, the film forces the audience to consider that the obstacles Jessica must overcome with The Machine at the University of Alabama may just be good practice for dealing with a much bigger, scarier machine in the real world.

THE UPSETTER

Next up is a documentary about Lee Scratch Perry, the legendary reggae producer. Shot over the past ten years with the addition of archival footage from his early career, co-directors Ethan Higbee and Adam Bhala Lough bring us the tumultuous life story of the man some consider one of the fathers of reggae music. From his early childhood in the hills of Kendal, Jamaica to the construction jobs moving the vibrating stones that inspired the sounds he later incorporated in his recordings, the film makers introduce us to the man who would go on to produce the music of artists such as Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, and ultimately influencing an entire generation with the invention of sampling. As the documentary continues, we learn that Perry's influence traveled past the shores of Jamaica impacting musicians around the world. Big players from The Clash to Paul McCartney collaborated with the eccentric rastafarian. As with many musical innovators, there is a dark side to his creative genius, and the film goes into detail about Perry's fight and ultimate defeat of his own demons. In recent years, Perry has continued to inspire and work with contemporary musicians, most notably contributing a track on Beastie Boys Hello Nasty. Although Lee Scratch Perry is a fascinating subject for a documentary, I can't help but think the directors may have missed something here. It would have been great to have incorporated interviews with some of the big musicians who claim Perry as such an inspiration. I would have loved to have seen Paul McCartney or members of The Clash or The Beastie Boys tell their experiences with the Jamaican producer and talk about why he had such an impact on their music. In fact, there are no other interviews other than those of the subject himself, and while he is a captivating character, I think some outside commentary would have really helped drive home the fact that he is so revered.

SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED

One of my favorite documentaries at the fest so far is Some Assembly Required. The film documents several teams of middle schoolers as they prepare and compete in the annual Toy Challenge in San Diego. Sponsored by former astronaut Sally Ride and her science foundation, the competition challenges boys and girls to invent the next big game or toy and present it at the yearly event. Director Dori Berinstein follows various teams around the country throughout the arduous process of early brainstorming, fabrication, and eventual presentation at the competition. Like other kid docs Spellbound or Rock School, it is delightful to witness the kids as they goof around while learning to get along and work as a team to accomplish their goal. Though their antics are hilarious, it's their ingenuity and enthusiasm that is truly inspiring as we see a group of girls scouts wiring a circuit board for their "climate change" game or see another team testing materials for their improved version of a boogie board. While not every team can win the competition, the ultimate lesson, of course, are the lessons learned along the way. Each kid whole-heartedly acknowledges that the entire process itself is the reward and not a medal around their neck or a trophy to gather dust. Aside from the delightful story and characters, Some Assembly Required is a beautifully crafted film complete with animated chapter titles nostalgically featuring popular toys from years gone by. Dori Berinstein has done a terrific job in pacing the film just right and building up to the eventual satisfying conclusion in a way that both adults and kids alike can enjoy. Well, I'll be checking in again tomorrow with more reviews from the SXSW Film Festival. So, until then, Annette Kellerman