8: THE MORMON PROPOSITION
To anyone who’s been following the news in the last year or so, this movie will come as no surprise. 8 (2010) deals with the Californian proposition on same-sex marriage that was voted for and accepted in the Constitution – only to be taken away from the people in less than a year. This documentary explores why this happened, and it seems to be pointing in one direction: the Mormon Church’s hatred for homosexuals.
The movie is presented in a straightforward, traditional manner: background, subject-matter, plot. It’s a very traditional structure, but it does the job. And how else should they make it? There’s nothing particularly provocative about the subject and thus just exposes itself as what it is: an investigation into the role of the Church of Latter Day Saints’ involvement in the abolition of the right to same-sex marriage.
Anyone who knows anything about the Mormon Church (anything) will not be shocked at the revelation later on in the trailer that the Church’s members allegedly forked out money to convince the Senate to go back on their decision. A shocking decision - granted, but the set-up here does not make me believe I should pay money to see this documentary. Unless you are extremely passionate about the cause.
It looks more like a BBC documentary than anything else. This is all good and well but not sellable. The trailer does not ask you to expect a lot and so why should you bother? It is essentially an open dialogue invitation, not a cry for revolution or to riot the streets. If I dare say so, 8 will probably turn out to be this year’s Michael Mooresque look-I’ve-exposed-the-bad-guys documentary.
Just like with Capitalism: A Love Story (2009), patiently wait for it to pop up on your telly. You’ll appreciate it more.
LIVING IN EMERGENCY: STORIES OF DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
Living In Emergency (2008) follows the daily struggles of the Doctors Without Borders and their work in Africa.
The workers of the organisation do great work, but this trailer doesn’t exactly do wonders to further promote them. It doesn’t focus on a number of main characters, anyone one or two events. It is simply a mess. The traditional red line is missing from the trailer, which is a shame, and turns the trailer into a shambles.
Having said this, the more I ponder on what I just watched, the mission of this film seems to be less about structure and a beautifully made documentary; and more about delivering to the common people pictures of a reality far from their own, and expose the organisation’s work further through a medium most people enjoy in order to promote or even just celebrate their efforts.
You expect the trailer to show a lot more shocking images, but it’s all glimpses of poverty, death, guns and medical equipment. Not impressed. Except by the choice of music, which is surprisingly different. No use of strings to make you cry, no horns to represent the epic proportion of the doctors’ work or xylophone moments to represent a sense of urgency. A gloomy, creepy, dark soundtrack enhances the sad, disturbing, hopeless atmosphere represented in the film.
Other than that, I am not sure how to make sense of it. Let’s hope the film will be a success. Otherwise, let’s wait for Doctors Without Borders: The Movie (starring Josh Hartnett, Eva Mendes and Harrison Ford, directed by Steven Spielberg – any takers?).
RESTREPO
Fans of anti-war films, I salute you! Restrepo (2010), winner of this year’s Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize, depicts honestly and hands-on a year in the life of American soldiers at work in Afghanistan.
Now, you may think “Oh God, another one of those”. I’m not one for lying to my readers, so yes. It’s another one of those. But it looks like a good one of those. It takes on look at how it is to be so close to an enemy you instinctively want to kill, but shouldn’t. It investigates how one is mentally unprepared for the many surprises ahead. It infiltrates itself into the lives of the soldiers and we’re lucky (?) enough to even catch a good glimpse at the Afghans, which increases our desire to watch the film itself – or at least my desire.
As one of the soldiers says, you “hope for the best”, for both the locals and the GIs. Although it basically looks like a Jarhead (2005) with unprofessional actors set in Afghanistan, it manages to entice you with its use of direct interviews entwined in the real-life footage. This may sound like a lot of unnecessary talking heads, but in fact works to its advantage, giving it a more accomplished look, not unlike the style of American news magazine 60 Minutes.
The only risk I can see so far, not having read any interviews with the crew or reviews of any kind, is that it might lack a steady storyline. The trailer presents the film as a series of action-packed shots of soldiers in battlefield, negotiating with the Afghans and the interviews. I don’t think it will be a problem for those spectators who know what they’re getting into, but it might require a lot of concentration and hard work from the average viewer.
Let’s see what happens.
AFTER THE CUP: SONS OF SAKHSIN UNITED
This misleading title hides a most likely brilliant sport documentary. After The Cup (2009) deals with the problems of Bnei Sakhsin football team – a team of Arab players in the state of Israel. Once a successful football team, they are now trying to simply survive the trouble that comes with being outcasts in a state where war and mayhem are part of daily life.
For once a sports film everyone can relate to. Tackling a subject as human as football players combined with a fight for coexistence brings it down to a level the majority of people can comprehend. Thus the filmmakers manage to bring out in the light a subject as delicate as this one without taking sides or being judgemental. Being a sports film that goes beyond the beauty of the sport itself is a breath of fresh air.
Watching the trailer filled me with exactly what I expected: a sense of optimism and hope. Subjects like this one are made to uplift and enlighten us and if they don’t do that at the trailer stage, they’ve failed.
There’s something incredibly moving about the struggle of these athletes. Not only are they pushing themselves physically to get to places most of us can only dream of, but they are dealing with being a minority in a country torn by war since God remembers when. But still, there is the belief that through sport, peace is obtainable- and is that not what sports are about anyway?
Even if this is merely a fantasy, it’s a pleasant one, and an illusion we don’t mind taking with us.
This film could prove that the bridge between Israelis and Arabs is ready to be mended.
Louise-Afzal Faerkel
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