Aha! A Lynn sighting! At last. Lynn will be filing a ton of Post-Sundance reports as it seems her computer has been... non-functioning. Sigh. But, here is proof that she was indeed there, as another spy... The Maus, spotted her. As for this documentary, DARK DAYS... Personally, I have to say that a film about the people that live beneath the surface of New York, in train tunnels... well, it has me right there. Are they the C.H.U.D. of Nick's fantasies... or do they come out at night, beating on manhole covers and pursue Plissken? Or... are they simply human beings with no desire to fit in with 'regulars' above? This sounds fascinating...
I ran into Lynn Braken on a Sundance bus and let her know how much I love your site. And now, I'm back. I see that Sundance reports are trickling in.
I just want to share my experience with Dark Days. This has to be one of the most intense, harrowing documentaries I have ever seen. It is about people living in the New York City Amtrak tunnels. Shot in 16mm black and white, it is a stunning exploration of how people form community in the darkest of places. It explores not only their bonds, but how they manage to survive.
I'm a professor at NYU and I am sure that this documentary will become a seminal work. professors and teachers across the country will use this as an example of socially conscious documentary, of filmmaking methods and social/political commentary.
And the film has two unexpected bonuses. it is NOT preachy and it has a happy ending.
It was very interesting to hear the filmmaker speak afterwards. He ended up moving into the tunnel for two years and the people he was documenting became his crew (not something you find out in the film).
Amazing.
The Maus
