Hello! from Documentary Nut

I just wanted to drop by and say Hi.. "Hi." I have been so very busy. I was originally hoping to get at least one or two reviews out per week. That is very unrealistic... but I have unrealistic expectations of myself! I am not a great writer. I don't have to be a great writer so it works out for me. However, I feel that because the past few days I have been trying to get documentaries out of the way that I have already seen, that my writing may be lacking more than usual. I am also afraid that with two of my reviews I seemed unnecessarily harsh. I edited them, but now they seem dull. Is the harshness that makes you like a review? That way you can have your own strong emotional reactions to it? Call me wrong, call me right? Who knows. I don't think it much matters at this point. I am going to keep on truckin. :)

Sound and Fury

2000

Josh Aronson's documentary takes an unexpected approach to the "medical miracle" film by examining the political and emotional turmoil that erupts between brothers over the cochlear implant that might allow their deaf children to hear. The ways in which a so-called miracle cure can divide as well as heal families and communities is the focus of Sound and Fury, which received an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature.

This is a MUST see documentary. Its about the hearing impaired community and the debate between people who want cochlear implants and those that are against it.
I read a review on this movie that really struck a heart string. I am going to paraphrase what the review said. The man said that when he first watched this he thought that it was a good idea that the hearing impaired get the implant... then he stopped and thought about his son. He thought about the same argument his son could make to him if he wanted to be turned white/Caucasian. That to me is a perfect analogy. Not everyone is eligible for the implant either. People with certain types of hearing loss are not able to get the implant. Definitely interesting to see both sides of the fence on this one. I only gave it four stars because it is not available in closed caption. ? That struck me as really insulting to the hearing impaired.

National Geographic Stress Portrait of a Killer

National Geographic Stress: Portrait of a Killer
2008

"The serially overworked already know that stress is a near-constant fixture in modern-day living. But to what degree is stress affecting our bodies -- and is there any way to healthfully combat it? With a focus on the work of Stanford University neurobiologist Robert Sapolsky, this National Geographic program looks at the latest science to see what researchers are learning about this insidiously silent killer."

I wanted to tie this in with "My flesh and blood" because there is a segment in it about parents of special needs kids. This documentary is about how people and primates deal with stress and the affects it has on our body. Chronically stressed people are at a higher risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and a whole slew of other medical problems. It also touches base with how being stressed out during a pregnancy can affect a person from infancy to adulthood. The part that deals with parents of special needs kids is fascinating because it also shows how simple acts, like helping someone else, can reduce stress and cause the body to repair itself. When that group of mothers talk about the stress in their day to day lives, I think it helps other people to understand a little more about how taking care of another human being 24/7 can be incredibly difficult. Stress is a huge part of most peoples lives.

My Flesh and Blood

My Flesh and blood

2003

Winner of both the Audience and Directing Awards at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, this inspiring documentary tracks a year in the life of Susan Tom, a single parent from suburban Fairfield, Calif., who has adopted 11 children with special needs. Directed by Jonathan Karsh, the film obliterates stereotypes about people with disabilities, sharing joyful moments and everyday challenges without shying away from the family's heartbreaking losses.

This film is an emotional roller coaster! I, like a lot of people had strong feelings towards Susan Tom. Some people thought that she had taken on too many kids other people thought she was horrible for going out while her daughter babysits. Here's the thing I want to point out, I think someone who has spent so much time, energy, emotion, and basically there entire life into caring for the disabled, they should get the chance to go out from time to time. I think it would be nicer and easier if she was able to hire a babysitter... but the problem with that would be WHO can take on that many children with disabilities for a few hours??? Not that many people, and the ones that can would cost a fortune. I see why she has her daughter do it. I find it sad that her daughter is as frustrated as she is, but she has the right to be given the circumstances! I think the daughter needs time to deflate too. I loved in the beginning that Susan pointed out Acceptance. Here is what most people don't get about acceptance... Most people comprehend it, but they don't actually understand it.

Its the difference between knowing something and applying something.

Acceptance is not easy for anyone. We normally use that word when we are dealing with death and dying, conflict of politics, conflict of religion, but not so much when we talk about people. MOST people are actually VERY guilty of not accepting others! They do it even when they don't intend to!

Here is an example; A girl (fill in blank for name) decides she is going into physical therapy. While in college, she decides she really enjoys working with children especially disabled kids. Great! There is a need for PT's in that field! Part of the reason girl wants to go into the field is that she has this impression that people who are special needs are somehow under loved and under cared for. (sometimes that is true, but not usually the case in a lot of areas.) Girl graduates, gets PTA license and gets job. The first kid she is working with is special needs, doesn't speak, doesn't have communication skills, is in "moderate" MHDD (mentally handicap developmentally delayed) category because his comprehension level and problem solving skills are very high.

Girl thinks "gee, no one has ever loved this child enough to teach him anything. How sad! I am going to teach him everything he needs to know and social skills in 6months! He will be so successful!!!"

Girl works with child as much as she can, does everything by the book and in 6months has made zero progress. The child even is refusing to work with her. Girl feels like a complete failure. Girl has no idea why she is in this field or why kids shy away from her instead of her actually helping them.

Now, this is someone with good intentions. They started off with a misconception that somehow parents, rather biological or adoptive, some how are stupid and or don't "really" love their kids. She thinks she somehow... SHE can do a better job than them. Girl thinks that she can "fix problems" with child's social skills along with physical ailments. Girl Does NOT understand what the word "acceptance" means, or how to apply it. Accepting someone is accepting them AS THEY ARE, NOT AS THEY COULD BE. A mistake so many people make. If girl had accepted child then she would have realized that she could make more progress with him than not accepting him. You can only do so much. If you work with a special needs kid, if they get it, they get it, Great! If they don't they don't and that's Great too! That's acceptance. That's what acceptance actually is... simply accepting. Loving just to love with no expectations, no conditions, no contract, JUST LOVE for no other reason than you are who and what you are.  

Another example: I am 5foot 2inches tall. I weight 135 pounds. I am (right now) out of shape. I like Michael Jordan (yes, I am so old school, I know.). If I want to play basketball like Mike I think that I should. If I want to spend 9hours a day outdoors practicing, I can. I can do this for the next 10 years. That doesn't mean I am going to be able to play ball or dunk a ball like Michael Jordan!!! I simply do not have that ability. That does not mean I should not try, because if that is in my heart (or yours) then, YES, you (and I) should try. But if you (and me) just are not able to achieve that, it does not make you OR me any LESS of a PERSON!!! (and no, I do not want to play ball like Mike. Its just an analogy.)

This documentary is a great one! It is wonderfully done on so many levels! I totally recommend it!!!

Born into Brothels

Born into Brothels

 

2004

British filmmaker Zana Briski's Oscar-winning documentary is a portrait of several unforgettable children who live in Calcutta's red-light district, where their mothers work as prostitutes to ensure their survival. Spurred by the kids' fascination with her camera, Briski decides to teach them photography. As they begin to look at and record their world through new eyes, the kids awaken to their own talents and sense of worth.

I wanted to do a follow up from my last post "Children Underground" with Born into Brothels. Both documentaries show a side of life for children in other countries that most people are not familiar with. Every review I have ever read on this documentary all comment on the happiness and dignity of these children. It really sticks with you when you watch it! These kids live in some of the most extreme situations I have ever seen! They are so brilliant... it is so sad to think that these children really have very little options in life. I made the remark on Children Underground that the children from Romania seemed so sad and depressed and yet these kids are almost the opposite. I wonder why. Is it all in how you look at things or perceive life? Great Documentary, I recommend it!  

Children Underground

Children Underground Documentary.


I have waited to do a review on a few different documentaries that really struck a nerve with me. This is one that strikes a huge nerve. This is a "MUST" see documentary. The Language is in Romanian so it is subtitled. Subtitles have never bothered me but I know it bothers some people. Even if you hate subtitles you should still watch this. This film is about five homeless children living in a subway. Their ages range from 8 to 16yrs old.

I only have one beef with this movie. The director Edet Belzberg portrays homelessness among children as being a direct result from the communist government banning abortion and the use of contraceptives. That is only partial true. Abortion became BECAME illegal in Romania under the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1966. Something that should be pointed out here is that in 1957 until 1966 abortion was completely legal. During that time 80% of pregnancies were terminated because there was a lack of contraceptives. Contraceptives were not made there and the government would not allow certain goods to be imported, contraceptives were among many of the goods not approved for import. The policy was reversed in 1989, after the Romanian Revolution and since that time abortion has been legal in Romania. That's my big beef with the documentary, most people who watch it think that abortion is still illegal there because the director makes it a point in the beginning of the film. There were 20,000 homeless children on the streets AT THE TIME the documentary is made. In 2007 Romania entered into a treaty with the European Union called the Treaty of Accession 2005. Part of the agreement in order for Europe to sign it was that Romania had to clean up their streets and provide homes for the children living there. This film was a HUGE hit in Europe and obviously affected their feelings to some degree along with other factors in order for that to be part of the union agreement. To portray abortion as still being illegal and as a direct result there is an over population of homeless kids is misleading.

This is definitely a heart wrenching story. The things these kids face on a day to day basis is very disturbing for even the hardest unemotional person. Its also sad to note that the community and government didn't get this mess taken care of until 2007. The way the people there think about the homeless and about homeless children is appalling. They honestly believe that the children are on the streets because they want to be there. Most of these kids did opt out of the orphanages because of the abuse they suffered in those institutions was worse than the abuse they suffered on the street. These kids either were droped off at an orphanage at a young age or ran away from home. The kids that ran away endured abuse at home and found life on the streets safer than their families home. So its not just about overpopulation, its about having a broken system all together. In America we take certain things for granted. Yes, we have homelessness in America but we will NOT tolerate a child without a home... we go above and beyond to make sure that child has a place to lay their head and social workers among community members step up to the plate to help a kid in need. We do a lot of things for people here in the states, we try to do a lot. That doesn't mean homelessness doesn't exist here because it obviously does. I think the difference is we try. We are aware. We don't turn a blind eye. We set up as many organizations and shelters as we can and we believe all human beings have a right to try and survive. Romania is "each man, woman, child for themselves."

One thing that really got to me about this documentary was the way the kids feel and treat each other. Obviously there is a lot of abuse on so many levels, but the way they were abusive to each other is so wrong. I guess if I imaged myself in their shoes I would expect adults to be that way... I would expect the people that don't care to be that way but I wouldn't  expect to see another child that has lived through the same abuse to dish it out in the same careless fashion. I suppose that kids mimic behavior and only know what they've been taught so I suppose in its own very messed up way it should be expected. Its a little bit/lot bit like Lord of the Flies. Ugh! Which brings me to my next point. I will write a blog about "Born into Brothels." That is about a group of children from India that were born into brothels. The kids in that film are so full of life, happiness and hope and the kids in Children Underground seem to have completely lost that. Both groups of kids have unbelievably tough lives... how can one set be so happy knowing what their lives will entail, while the other set seems so hopeless? Food for thought.

Picture Me (Picture Me: A Model's Diary)

Go behind the scenes and experience both the glamour and the darker side of the high fashion industry as filmmaker Ole Schell documents girlfriend Sara Ziff's rise to international model status in this revealing film. Taking place over several years, the documentary features interviews with numerous models in the industry and includes appearances by designers Karl Lagerfeld and Nicole Miller, photographer Gilles Bensimon and others.

I am not interested in high fashion designs or models, but I found this to be incredibly fascinating. I understand why so many of these girls end up on drugs... they are literally treated like a piece of meat. Despite what people think, these girls are often worked to death. They are paid a lot, A LOT, of money though so it sorta compensates. I have always felt that models were just a different form of prostitution, an unconventional form of it and I think this documentary proves me right. The thing I noticed about this film the most, the models themselves don't strut around in makeup and nice clothes the majority of the time. They actually don't wear makeup on a day to day basis unless they are working. Odd to think that most women wear makeup as though it is expected of them day to day. I am one of the gals that always has "a face" on. I am openly insecure. I am also okay with that.
This is worth watching cause it gives you an idea how all this fashion crap works. Interesting if nothing else.

The Parking Lot Movie

Meghan Eckman tracked the comings and goings of a solitary parking lot in Charlottesville, Va., chronicling the lives of the attendants who were working there. This inspiring documentary is the result. Hanging tough as they navigate the range of human emotion, from hope to frustration, from a sense of limitless possibilities to stagnation. The film's subjects embody the pursuit of the American Dream.

I am almost afraid to write a review on this one. They are a crazy educated bunch but more importantly have the ability to apply their intelligence, so if by chance they should stumble across this blog, I am sure they will pull my writing, opinions and views apart. I am okay with that though. The reason I desperately want to write this review... because I hung out with a group of friends like these guys when I was younger. (that, however, is a story for a different blog altogether. I will throw in here that I was NOT one of the smart ones. But I am super loving, not in a dirty way. Just super accepting of anyone without judging them...and I am proud to say I am still actually that way.)
One of the most compelling things about this documentary is Mark Schottinger. He has an unbelievable voice! He was so stunning to me that I ran to write his name down least I forget it. If nothing else, you should watch this just for the clips of him singing w/his guitar.
What the documentary is about... a group of people that work at a parking lot. Yep, that's it.

What else can I say? These guys are actually college graduates. I am assuming the majority of them smoke the refer and at one point or another have taken on Stairway to heaven as there personal anthem. I don't see anything wrong with that. One of the guys was even a professor. He mentions a girl that is a former student that acts as though she doesn't know him when she pulls up to pay, but he recognizes the expression in her face and knows she knows who he is. Can you imagine that? I think that makes a great point to this movie. People have the tendency to judge others over the dumbest shit. Now in that girls defence she is most likely thinking.. "I paid, Ummm, *scoffing* My parents paid How much to send me to college so that I could be taught by the finest and the brightest teachers, get a really good education so I can start a career in a high paying job and contribute to society and my teach works at a fricken parking lot????" Flip side of the coin is the teacher chose to opt out and work at the parking lot. Everyone has the right to choose to do what they want in America... so long as they are not breaking the law, and being an attendant at a parking lot is a needed job! Someone has to do it. They deserve the same amount of respect as any other human being.
This is where I totally agree with how these guys feel. It doesn't matter how nice a person thinks they are, they judge people based on what they do, what they have, what they smell like, a basically every other superficial thing a person can be judged by.

If you want a good deep look into how people are treated simply because of what they do, this is a great documentary to watch. It also shows how working as a parking lot attendant can eventually drive anyone crazy. The video at the end is hilarious! Make sure to watch that part.

Prodigal Sons

Most of my review on this one is a spoiler alert. The first part won't be a spoiler. I will inform you of that when the spoiler begins.

This documentary is about a girl named Kimberly Reed and her family. She takes a trip back to her home town for a high school reunion. However when she went to school in rural Montana she was the former quarterback and captain of the HS football team. Her name used, USED to be Paul Mckerrow. That is not a spoiler as that is what the film is partly about. She is a transgendered female with a girl friend. I suppose technically she is a lesbian, but not really. Hmmm.. I am sure there are debates on that one on the Internet else where. I don't really want to get into that side of the documentary. I think Kim is a very lovable person. She is definitely someone I would be honored to be friends with. I think she is a beautiful woman, and was a beautiful man. The other part of the documentary is about her brother Marc. He suffered a head injury when he was 21 in a car accident. Its a great film to watch. I give it 3-4 stars out of 5. I am undecided on the star system.

***Spoiler Alert starts here***

OH Yeah! These are the type of documentaries that make me LOVE them! I have a huge fascination with documentaries about people who have mental illness. I also love documentaries about people who are MHDD (Mentally handicapped developmentally delayed.) People either look at it as a good thing or as exploiting people who are unaware of their environment. I look at it as being a good thing because I think it helps people understand things better about other people that they may not be exposed to that often if ever. I know that Marc has had an accident in his life that may or may not have caused his mood swings and violent outbursts. Kim mentioned that he was very much moody prior to the accident. It makes me wonder why she did not dive deeper into her own background. First she is a transgender, the other brother is homosexual and then Marc is mentally unstable. It could all be coincidence, however in most families of three kids one comes out without as much baggage as the others. They all continuously repeated that they loved their father but I do have to question that. Not much was said about him other than him being a doctor and that they loved him. I love my parents too, that doesn't mean they were perfect people. The sooner a person can say their parents aren't perfect the sooner they can; love them for their mistakes as people, stop sugar coding their faults, stop having a juvenile perception of them as always being right. Its seems to be a problem from my view that they idolized him in some odd way. Suspicious.

Marc is adopted because his parents thought they couldn't have children. Then in an odd turn of events, they had Paul roughly a year later they had another child. Marc is obsessed with his past. While he was in high school with Paul (Kim now) he was very competitive. Marc was held back in preschool so the two of them went through school together. That would be difficult for anyone, but especially for a child that is adopted and his brother is "the Cats Meow!" During part of the movie, prior to the reunion an old friend of Marc's is talking to the camera and complaining about how Marc screwed him over on a car deal back in high school. I think that part shows that Marc was always an unreliable person and very self centered. I think the accident has become an excuse for him to behave badly, however I do believe he does suffer a mental illness that should be addressed. Obviously he needs some counseling and anger management. Kim seems to understand that at least in part. She seems to think that if Marc finds his biological parents then that will give him something to cling to instead of the past he had with her when she was a man. Marc does succeed in finding out who his biological family is... Lo and fricken behold his mother is Rebbecca Welles!!! Crazy! Daughter of the famous Orson Wells and Rita Hayworth. Orson Wells and Rita Hayworth had no idea Marc existed! I think the biggest bite in the ass for Marc has to the fact that Orson and his long time lover and partner Oja Kodar would have loved to have a son!!! Hows that for a kick in the balls!!! 

Following Sean Documentary

Following Sean Documentary


Once again if you like to watch people and their lives... if you like the physiological aspect of documentaries, then this is a great movie to watch. Its about a boy named Sean. Originally the filmmaker Ralph Arlyck did an interview and videotaped Sean when Sean was 4yrs old. Sean's parents were hippies living the in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district in 1969. Ralph lived in the appt below them. Sean (again only 4) smoked and ate pot while running around wild in the neighbor hood. Ralph's first documentary about Sean caught a lot of attention. Most people viewed it as being a perfect example of the things wrong with American at the time. This documentary takes place 30yrs later and follows Sean's adult life for a little while, but it also reflects on Ralph's life to. 50% Sean 50% Ralph.

***Spoiler Alert starts here***

My personal opinion. I think Ralph is super self indulgent. How is it you have a grown man with two adult sons that still doesn't know what he wants to do with his life? Seriously??? Here his wife works as a professor for a college and he does what??? WHAT???  I could say a lot more about Mr. Arlyck, but its all very rude. I am going to leave my rudeness out.
Flip side of the coin, Sean. WOW! Most parents want their children to succeed in life. Most parents put back hard earned money for their kids to go to college, or at least some money for them to go. Most parents put emphasis on making good grades and doing well in school so they will grow up to become contributing members of society. Sean's parents were not like that. They were/are 100%Hippie. Throw in the mix communist grandparents and yeah, you end up with a child who smokes dope and is encouraged to do so at the age of 4. Sean however, didn't chose that path in life. He went to Berkley and graduated with honors. He put himself through college! He had some help from commie grandma but the boy really went far on his own. Here's what the school systems and colleges don't want you to know: Just cause you went through all that, it doesn't mean your going to end up with a high paying job. OUCH! That's what poor Sean learned the hard way. See, he wants a better life, he wants better things in that life and he has worked his ass off to get there BUT he is not there, he just can't quite get there. He works as an electrician and is a very intelligent guy. Cute too. He doesn't make much money at all. His intelligence is not being used anywhere near its full potential because he can't pay for grad school. He wants to be a lawyer. Law school=super expensive. What do you do in life when you are in your 30's and just can't afford to go any further? To add to that mix, you have a wife and a kid... then your divorced so you have child support and possibly alimony. It didn't say anything about alimony, but I am assuming cause she is Russian that she most likely picked up some alimony. Ekkkkk. SO all the parents out there that wonder when their kids act up, rebel, refuse to do homework, spend more time with their friends than studying, yada, ****en, yada, Stop asking yourself if you are doing the right thing. You are. You aren't a hippy, you aren't a commie, (unless you are a commie and if so get the **** off my blog) so your doing something right. You don't have to sit around and watch your kids struggle this way cause regardless of your income, you most likely put a little on the side for your kid and/or at least showed up at a few parent teacher conferences. Hang in there Sean! If nothing else, you can and will be a good father to your son!