A CRIME ON THE BAYOU (doc, 2020)

November 19, 2020

 Greetings again from the darkness. Debates over whether ‘systemic racism’ exists are ongoing today. What can’t be denied is that it existed in 1966 when a young man was arrested for touching the arm of white boy while attempting to prevent a fight from breaking out at a recently-integrated high school. Director Nancy Buirski (producer on LOVING, 2016) chronicles this incredible story that reached the U.S. Supreme Court and resulted in an unexpected lifelong friendship.

A Tolstoy quote kicks things off: “Since corrupt people unite amongst themselves to constitute a force, then honest people must do the same.” It’s a chilling quote and one that fits this story perfectly. Because of its Gulf coast location, Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana has been battered by numerous hurricanes over the years, and we see archival footage of the destruction caused by Hurricane Betsy in 1965. The following year is when 19 year old Gary Duncan got out of his car to see why a couple of his cousins were being confronted by a group of white high school boys. As he diffused the situation, Duncan touched one of the white boys on the elbow … a simple act that resulted in him being arrested for cruelty to a juvenile. When the charge was dropped, a new charge of assault was immediately filed and Duncan was taken to jail.

Enter Richard Sobol, a young Jewish attorney, committed to justice and fairness under the law. To understand the impact of Mr. Sobol taking on Mr. Duncan’s case, one must first absorb the utterly fascinating (and disgusting) story of “Political Boss” Leander Perez. Director Buirski provides an overview of the tremendous power wielded by Perez in his more than 40 years controlling the area, but it would require a dedicated project to fully grasp the depths of his racism and corruption. A clip of Perez being chewed up by William F Buckley on “Firing Line” is plenty to establish his stature as a racist scumbag. Fortunately, more time is spent on the commitment and courage of Sobol and Duncan than on the despicable actions of Perez, although the result is a real life head-on collision between good and evil.

Included here are interviews with Sobol, Duncan, Civil Rights Attorney Armand Derfner, Civil Rights Attorney Lolis Elie, and Mr. Elie’s son, a writer and journalist. The court case segments are drawn directly from transcripts, and it’s interesting to learn that Mr. Duncan’s mother was a driving force in his continuing to fight. Director Buirski devotes an entire section to Mr. Sobol, and rightfully so. This is a piece of history that he and Gary Duncan share. The clips of Ruby Bridges and Angela Davis come across as a bit forced, but the ‘white people in control of black people’ era is itself maddening to watch.

Archival footage and photos and interviews blend together with an excellent use of music to paint a picture of the times. And hearing Mr. Sobol discuss being a 29 year old lawyer making his case to the US Supreme Court is inspirational. This is a true crime drama so ridiculous we can’t help but shake our heads. But the crime wasn’t the touch of the arm by Duncan. The crime was the environment created by the likes of Leander Perez. The epilogue tells us more of Perez’s story, and also that Duncan and Sobol remained friends long after their place in history was set.

 

Leave a Comment » | Documentary | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

THE ORANGE YEARS: THE NICKELODEON STORY (doc, 2020)

November 16, 2020

 Greetings again from the darkness. Slime. Perhaps that word conjures images of the 1984 film GHOSTBUSTERS, but for many who were kids in the 1980’s and 1990’s, slime is synonymous with Nickelodeon, and specifically the network’s game show, “Double Dare”. This documentary from co-directors Scott Barber and Adam Sweeney traces the history of the still popular network, and visits with those who helped build the foundation.

The Nickelodeon network was officially launched in 1979, however the film teaches us how it was inspired by the TV show “Pinwheel”, and tested on QUBE, the interactive cable network whose pushbutton controller allowing immediate feedback from viewers was revolutionary. It’s difficult to imagine the days when there existed no network dedicated to entertainment for kids, yet the programming challenges faced in those early years are shocking. Nickelodeon was named after the original indoor moving picture theaters from the early 1900’s (cost was 5 cents to watch), and the naming of Geraldine Laybourne as President in 1980 marked the beginning of explosive growth for the upstart “First Channel for Kids”.

Ms. Laybourne is interviewed here, and is worshipped by those who describe her as a progressive thinker and exemplary teacher. Her role in those early years was clearly crucial to the network, although after 16 years, she left to join rival Disney. The founding days are so thoroughly discussed that we learn Pantone 21C is the color used for the familiar orange logo … simply because orange is a “happy” color. With a goal to “Let kids be kids”, it’s quite obvious that those involved understood what kids liked and didn’t like. NickToons was established in 1991 with three gems: “Rugrats”, “Doug”, and “Ren & Stimpy”. Jim Jinkins was the creator of “Doug” and we learn much about him. In fact, interviews are included from numerous members of the talent roster. Marc Summers, host of “Double Dare”, Melissa Joan Hart, star of “Clarissa Explains it All”, and Kenan Thompson of “Kenan and Kel”, who of course, has gone on to spend many years as a featured player on “Saturday Night Live”. These folks reminisce about the early years and how they understood they were changing the landscape of TV for kids.

This isn’t just about the stars. We learn about the opening of the Nickelodeon Studio in Orlando, and how it became a featured attraction on the Universal Studios tour. We also hear from the writers, producers, and creators, so that we get the full picture of how things came together and then developed. Some names we wouldn’t expect to be associated with Nickelodeon include: Iggy Pop, Magic Johnson, Chris Farley, and Coolio. We see how each fit in. We learn about ‘middle-age kids’, the beginnings of SNICK (with “Are You Afraid of the Dark?”), as well as the initial resistance to merchandising – termed ‘exploiting kids’. Of course, all of that changed with Nickelodeon Magazine, “SpongeBob SquarePants” (1999) and “Dora the Explorer” (2000).

The magazine and merchandising became a physical manifestation of the network’s programming, and of course, a substantial addition to the revenue stream. What’s most impressive with the backstory is how those behind the programming were so energized and committed to changing the world of children’s TV. There may have been game shows, slime, and Gak, but the real impact resulted from their understanding of kids … kids that are now adults and admit to growing up watching Nickelodeon. It’s a legacy that continues today.

Available On Demand beginning November 17, 2020

watch the trailer

Leave a Comment » | Documentary | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

THE TEST AND THE ART OF THINKING (doc, 2020)

November 16, 2020

 Greetings again from the darkness. “And you may begin.” Thanks to this documentary feature film from Michael Arlen Davis, we now know that 3.5 million high school students graduate each year, and 80% of them have taken a standardized college admission test at least once. The vast majority of those students experience anxiety and feel the pressure that comes with needing a certain score to have any chance at gaining admission to the school of their choice.

Why do these tests exist? What do they measure? How are scores used in the admissions process? How accurate are they in predicting academic success at the next level? These topics are discussed during the film through interviews with academics, tutors, parents, and students. Surprisingly, the professional tutors – or testing coaches – provide the most insight. Each has their own philosophy, but the key takeaway is that standardized tests don’t evaluate what you know, but rather how you think and how well-prepared you are to take such a test.

Carl Brigham, a Princeton Professor of Psychology and member of the advisory council of the American Eugenics Society, is credited with creating the original SAT, though it’s been re-designed a few times since. We hear from John Katzman, who founded the Princeton Review in 1986 as a business to teach and tutor students on how to best prepare for standardized tests. From there, many others, including private for-hire tutors have become part of this ever-expanding industry. This goes to the core of just how important test scores are viewed in the college admission process.

In 2001, Dr. Atkinson of the University of California system announced they were looking to drop the SAT from the admissions evaluation, and this year’s COVID environment has pushed other systems and schools to consider alternative methods as well. It’s pointed out that the tests are not dissimilar to IQ tests, yet most agree a test score is not an accurate measure of intelligence. Standardized tests are described as a “get the answer” test, and the better students hone this skill, the less anxiety or stress they feel, and the more options they’ll have for advanced education … or all of the above.

Available on streaming platforms beginning November 17, 2020

watch the trailer

Leave a Comment » | Documentary | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

TRUTH IS THE ONLY CLIENT: THE OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION OF THE MURDER OF JOHN F KENNEDY (doc, 2020)

November 16, 2020

Greetings again from the darkness. Having spent much of my life in Dallas, the tragic events of November 22, 1963 have always played a role in my identity as a Texan. President Kennedy’s assassination that day has carried the added burden of conspiracy theories and politicized commentary … this in addition to the devastating emotional toll it took on the citizens of the United States. Co-directors Todd Kwait and Rob Stegman focus their attention on The Warren Report, the research conducted by the 7 appointed members of the committee, plus the affiliated attorneys and staff.

We see the archival clip of the Boston Symphony announcement of that day’s assassination, and the reaction of the live audience as the conductor reveals the Funeral March from Beethoven’s symphony is next up. It’s effective as a reminder of the gut-punch felt by the populace, before the filmmakers’ move towards a more analytical look at the findings by the commission. Vincent Bugliosi then informs us that it’s the greatest murder case in world history, and also the most important and complex. Bugliosi (now deceased) was the lead prosecutor in the Charles Manson case, and he also acted as the prosecutor in a 1986 televised mock trial of Lee Harvey Oswald – an event which led Bugliosi to write a detailed 2007 book entitled “Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F Kennedy”.

Four surviving staff members affiliated with the Warren Commission are interviewed on camera, as are other experts, authors, historians, and investigators. The “star” witnesses are Ruth Hyde Paine and Robert Blakey. Ms. Paine was a friend of Marina Oswald, and owned the house where Marina lived at the time of the assassination. Mr. Blakey was Chief Counsel and Staff Director to the U.S. House Select Committee on Assassinations (1977-79), which investigated Kennedy’s death. Among the other key contributors included here are author Patricia Johnson McMillan (“Marina and Lee”), Kennedy expert Judge Brendan Sheehan, CIA historian David Robarge, and Sound/Acoustics investigator Steve Barber.

While acknowledging, and not shying away from, the numerous conspiracy theories that have been floated in regards to the assassination, it’s important to understand that the focus here is on the report filed by the Warren Commission. It could even be categorized as having the goal of proving its accuracy. It’s noted that Chief Justice Earl Warren directed everyone associated with the commission that, “your only client is the truth”. We are informed that the multitude of conspiracy theories have cumulatively accused 12 groups, 82 assassins, and hundreds of co-conspirators. The commission interviewed 552 witnesses, and those involved remain adamant that their research and work was neither tainted nor politicized.

A high level history lesson is worked in between the interviews, often tying in to the portion of the report being discussed. These segments include: the assassination attempt on General Walker, Oswald’s pro-Castro work in New Orleans, the ‘grassy knoll’, the pristine bullet, Jack Ruby (including some background on him), and of course, the Zapruder film … where the pertinent frames are analyzed. There is an interesting segment on the Police Audio and how it was remarkably released via Gallery Magazine (a publication for adults). Discussion of Operation Mongoose, the CIA plot to overthrow communism in Cuba, including the killing of Fidel Castro may or may not be news to viewers, and there is even mention of Oliver Stone’s 1991 movie, JFK.

Included among those who have been accused of orchestrating the assassination are Cuba, the Soviet Union, organized crime, the FBI, and the CIA. Those involved specifically reference the cover-ups perpetrated by those latter two federal agencies. Did these hinder the investigations and impact the final report? Whether you subscribe to one or more of the conspiracy theories, one would be hard-pressed to not at least acknowledge that the citizenry’s distrust of government was amplified during this time,  and nothing since has calmed the waters. Kwait’s and Stegman’s film is undoubtedly the best film breakdown of the Warren Report, though it’s unlikely to change the minds of those who prefer a conspiracy.

watch the trailer

Leave a Comment » | Documentary | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

THE CAMPAIGN OF MINER BO (2020, doc)

October 19, 2020

 Greetings again from the darkness. During her campaign for the presidency, Hillary Clinton appeared at an Ohio Town Hall meeting, and while pushing green energy alternatives said, “We are going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business.” It’s the kind of statement that makes headlines, and it did. Of course, Hillary went on to say that it was important we don’t forget about the people that work and depend on the coal industry, but that never became part of the story. Director Todd Drezner does include it here, while mostly focusing on how West Virginian native Bo Copley, a former mining company employee, became a candidate for U.S. Senate.

As a refresher, we see Hillary’s Town Hall statements, and we also see the clip of the roundtable where Bo Copley handed a family photograph to Hillary, confronting her with the real life impact of shutting down coal production.  That simple gesture turned Bo Copley into a “coal miner celebrity”, ultimately pushing him towards the campaign that inspired this documentary. The film opens in June 2017 in Williamson, West Virginia, as Bo rehearses his announcement speech. He’s neither polished, nor confident, and admits, this is “not my natural habitat”.

One thing that quickly becomes clear – Bo is a good dude. He’s a family man and a man of faith. Another thing that’s just as clear – Bo is in over his head for this process. He’s a well-intentioned nice buy, but his platform seems to be, “I think an everyday person should represent everyday people.” This happens to be a highly contested Republican primary featuring five other candidates, two of which are skilled politicians, and a third is a mining company owner who served prison time for a tragedy that killed 29 miners.

The film is structured as a countdown to the primary, and it follows Bo on some of his campaign stops – most of which reinforce that he’s not equipped for this race. He is the prime example of a guy who wants a change in politics and is willing to step up, but simply doesn’t have the understanding … or the funds … to actually compete. He believes if people like him, they’ll vote for him; so there’s no need to ask for votes, even as he’s coaching a kids’ soccer team.

Bo’s wife Lauren is also included here, and she’s supportive of his run, though not initially. Their Christian beliefs are on full display. Director Drezner’s and Bo’s best moment occurs during a talk show interview when the candidate answers the obvious question, “Why start your political career running for the U.S. Senate.” Bo’s answer is spot on and thought-provoking, and goes to the heart of the flaw in our system. The film should be watched by anyone looking to dive into a political run, as it excels as a how-not-to guide.

watch the trailer

 

 

Leave a Comment » | Documentary | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

SHE IS THE OCEAN (doc, 2020)

October 15, 2020

 Greetings again from the darkness. “My soul is full of longing for the secret of the sea. And the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.” That quote from William Wadsworth Longfellow sums up much of what makes the nine women (OK, 8 women and one younger girl) the subject of director Inna Blokhina’s fascination. The film takes us around the globe to meet these women who are drawn to the sea.

It’s a beautiful film to look at, and why wouldn’t it be? Most of it occurs on beaches, underwater, or on surfboards as the waves come in. Two key elements are in play here. First is the spiritual connection to the ocean, and second is women pursuing their passion and dreams as they relate to the ocean.

Cinta Hamsel is the youngest of those featured here, and her aging acts as a framing structure for the film. Her name translates to “Love” in Indonesia, and the filmmaker catches up with her over the years, including her “first big wave”. Cinta flashes a luminous smile from a very early age, and it’s a treat to watch her energy grow and change over the years.

The other women featured here get their own segments – some more expansive than others – and there is probably a 40 or 50 year range in ages. Coco Ho is a 20-something year old pro surfer and the daughter of professional surfer champion surfer Michael Ho. She has many surfing titles to her name all over the world, and is a proud icon for the power of women. Ocean Ramsey swims with sharks – not in the business sense, but rather in the real world. She is knowledgeable and protective of the species, and even educates tourists on what sharks are actually like in comparison to JAWS. Anna Bader is a world famous cliff diver, often executing dives from 24+ meters. She hails from Germany and is the daughter of an Olympic gymnast. Ms. Bader thrives on independence, and she opens up about how her life perspective changed when she got pregnant. Rose Molina is a spiritual vagabond. She has lived all over the world and she thrives on her alone time with yoga and meditation. Her dance and ballet training combined with her free diving, lends itself to her freedom and safety in the sea. Keala Kennelly grew up in Hawaii and became a professional surfer. She discloses how she tried to fit into the feminine model the sponsors wanted, but now she just focuses on being herself – especially after a severe facial injury. Andrea Mollen loves distance paddling in the ocean and surfing big waves. She gushes over her love for her daughter and her work as an EMT. Jeannie Chesser is a bit older than those previously mentioned. She has lost her husband and her professional surfer son Todd, who drowned. Ms. Chesser discusses her cancer diagnosis and how she uses surfing for healing. Finally, we have Sylvia Earle, who despite being the most interesting of all of these woman, receives the shortest segment. As the first female Chief Scientist of the U.S., Ms. Earl is a Marine Botanist who spreads the message that the history of life is in the ocean, and we must respect and protect it. She also inspires by encouraging us to re-discover that child explorer that we once were … embrace the sense of wonder.

If the film has a flaw, it’s that the focus is so concentrated on surfing, and underplays the message and accomplishments of Sylvia Earle. Filmmaker Blokhina opts to give each woman their own song/music (some work better than others). And of course, while each story is inspiring and interesting, it’s the shots of Hawaii’s Pipe Line and Jaws waves that literally take our breath away. Jacques Cousteau said, “The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” These women certainly agree.

watch the trailer

1 Comment | Documentary | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

STRO: THE MICHAEL D’ASARO STORY (doc, 2020)

October 15, 2020

 Greetings again from the darkness. I would have not guessed a fencing movie could hold my attention. I’d have been wrong. But then, this isn’t so much a fencing movie as it is the story of the legacy of Michael D’Asaro, a former world class fencer and coach. Co-directors Gregory Lynch Jr and Doug Nichols previously collaborated on another fencing documentary entitled THE LAST CAPTAIN (2017), and it’s clear they are familiar with the sport and its history.

Beginning your film with a philosophical Carl Jung quote immediately sends the message that this is an unconventional sports project. In fact, psychology and philosophy played a key role in the success of Michael D’Asaro throughout his career, and his approach and style evolved greatly as he aged. He believed one could learn all of life’s lessons through fencing.

For those of us not as schooled on fencing’s finer points, the directors are kind enough to serve up a quickie education, with a key point being the three weapons used in completion: Foil, Epee, and Sabre. Each of the weapons has its own set of rules and demands its own particular skill set. Rare is the fencer who excels at all three. And yes you are correct, Michael D’Asaro was one of these. We hear from many of his teammates and pupils, and the descriptions are pretty consistent. D’Asaro had his own aggressive style. There was an “edge” to him, and he fought with fierceness.

Much of the film is structured like a standard biopic, with D’Asaro’s sister, son, and ex-wife (and fellow fencer) recollecting bits and pieces of the life of this Brooklyn boy. We learn his own mother nicknamed him “Chubby” and he was part of a street gang, which is why he initially had an interest in fencing – he hoped it would fine-tune his knife fighting. D’Asaro was certainly no choir boy, and we hear about his hard partying (drugs and alcohol), and get a timeline of his ups and downs involving the Olympics, Pan Am games, the U.S. Army, his hippie years on Haight-Ashbury, and his re-birth at Hans Halberstadt Club, which led to his coaching gig at San Jose State.

Speaking of psychology, it’s fascinating to read the body language of Al Morales as he recalls his rivalry with D’Asaro, and learning of D’Asaro’s Polish mentor, Jerzy Pawlowski, often referred to as the greatest fencer of all-time. By the end, we realize D’Asaro lived an interesting life, most of it on his terms. Despite all his wins ‘on the strip’, and the fact that he beat colon cancer, a brain tumor finally proved too much – although it may have led to his finding peace as a person, and with his legacy of performance, coaching, and impacting women’s sports.

watch the trailer

Leave a Comment » | Documentary | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

DRIVING WHILE BLACK: RACE, SPACE, AND MOBILITY IN AMERICA (2020, doc)

October 13, 2020

Greetings again from the darkness. When I was a kid, our family vacations consisted of loading up the car (with stuff and people) and hitting the road. Airline travel was not in the budget, and, at night, we typically piled everyone into one room at a low cost roadside motor inn (motel). We always had an ice chest, which allowed us to prepare most meals while on the trip … eating in a restaurant or café was a luxury that might happen once or twice on a trip. Why do I tell you this? Well because this is pretty much exactly how black people in this movie describe their long ago vacations. However, the few differences were substantial, to say the least. As a white family, we always had options for places to stop, while the black families were always concerned for their safety, and certainly never had the number of options we did. That anxiety and horror felt by blacks on the road in a racist society still exists today, and the history is expertly examined in this PBS documentary from author Gretchen Sorin and Ric Burns (brother of Ken).

We are told that the phrase, “Driving while black” covers much more than the time behind the wheel. It’s the constant concern for safety – while eating, sleeping, and living. The advent of affordable cars opened up the opportunity for blacks to answer the call of the road, and make memories with their families, but the constant fear never left. Mobility is emblematic of freedom, and the film goes back to the ‘forced mobility’ of slave ships and takes us through many progressions: slaves needing a note from their owner to cross the street, the Underground Railroad, the Fugitive Slave Act (the lit fuse to start the Civil War), the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation that freed blacks but left them nowhere to go, Reconstruction as a hopeful era, cotton and tobacco sharecropping, the rise of the KKK and the Jim Crow era, the booming Interstate Highway era – with the sacrifice of black neighborhoods, the Great Migration (north and west), how integration impacted Black culture, history, and heritage, and finally, how the cell phone age has opened many eyes.

Since this is a detailed history lesson, Ms. Sorin and Mr. Burns include terrific interviews with historians, writers, and journalists. Some of the archival video and photographs are stunning, and the film includes pertinent quotes from such dignitaries as Thurgood Marshall, W.E.B. Dubois, Richard Writer, James Baldwin, and Frederick Douglass. The photographs of actual lynchings are tough to look at, and the statistics provided are soul-crushing. As we hear people recount history with actual stories, it becomes very personal, rather than just title chapters in a social studies textbook.

Many “Black travel guides” existed, but it’s (NYC postal worker) Victor Green’s “The Negro Motorist Green Book” that is most well-known and the longest lasting. It contained “safe places” for blacks to stay, eat, and stop. The book could be found at many Esso stations, and we learn that it was published for more than 30 years. The fallout of integration meant that many black businesses failed as families moved to the suburbs … leaving only a very small percentage of ‘Green Book’ businesses with open doors.

An interesting segment on how the automobile industry, and Henry Ford in particular, led to the Great Migration of blacks from the south to the north (specifically Detroit). The promise of a job, decent pay, and independence were quite the draw. On the other hand, we see the many Chevrolet ads touting how the open road allows one to control their own destiny … but the folks in those ads were always white. This is a remarkable history lesson, and it’s very well documented. Today’s readily available cell phone footage has opened the eyes of the rest of us, so that we can understand the meaning of ‘Driving while black’.

The film premieres on PBS nationwide on October 13, 2020

watch the trailer on CNN:

https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2020/10/08/driving-while-black-pbs-trailer.cnn

 

Leave a Comment » | Documentary | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

TIME (2020, doc)

October 8, 2020

 Greetings again from the darkness. “Our prison system is nothing more than slavery, and I’m an abolitionist.” So states Fox Rich, a successful business woman, and the mother of six boys. Director Garrett Bradley brings us the story of this woman who devoted 20 years to the mission of getting her husband’s prison sentence reduced. It was 1997, and the desperate Shreveport couple were arrested for armed bank robbery. Fox took the plea bargain, while husband Rob did not.

Fox served less than 3 years for her involvement in the robbery, while a Louisiana judge sentenced Rob to 60 years (the maximum sentence was 99), with no allowance for parole. Fox was pregnant with twins when Rob was sentenced. She named the twins Freedom and Justus. Director Bradley expertly weaves clips from the home videos Fox recorded for Rob with ‘in the moment’ discussions and observations of her attempts to get someone in the system to hear the case.

What we witness over the course of the film is a proud, strong, fierce woman who, as a single mother, raises 6 kids while she works – at her job and to get Rob released. Twice per month visits is all that she’s allowed with Rob, which leads one of the sons to comment that hiding behind the strong family image is a lot of pain. Fox discusses how her mother taught her to believe in the American Dream, but desperate people do desperate things … although we never get an explanation of just why Fox and Rob were so desperate to rob a bank. Fox’s mother states, “Right don’t come to you doing wrong”, and then she turns around and compared incarceration to slavery.

There are some mixed messages delivered here, which is understandable given how complicated life can get. Perhaps the most vivid message is the impact incarceration has on a family. Fox is an extraordinary woman devoted to raising her sons as strong and smart young men. But she also decries that her boys have never had a father and don’t even know the role one plays. While Fox displays the ultimate in polite phone decorum despite her frustrations with an uncaring, inefficient system, we do see her sincerity as she stands in front of her church congregation asking for forgiveness of her poor choices.

The film was highly acclaimed and talked about at Sundance 2020, and that’s likely because it strikes hard at family emotions and societal issues. A prime example is the phone call between Fox and Rob just prior to his re-sentencing hearing. From a filmmaking perspective, the black and white images are terrific, and as previously stated, the home movies and “live” filming are expertly blended. On the downside, the sound mix is horrible at the beginning, and the music (beautiful piano playing) often overpowers the dialogue throughout. It’s a film meant to create discussion amongst viewers, and it’s sure to do so.

watch the trailer

Leave a Comment » | Documentary | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

THE WALRUS AND THE WHISTLEBLOWER (2020, doc)

October 8, 2020

 Greetings again from the darkness. Is this Canada’s answer to the ground-breaking documentary BLACKFISH (2013), which destroyed SeaWorld’s status as wholesome family entertainment?  Well, kinda sorta. MarineLand is the popular amusement park located in Niagara Falls, Canada. It was founded in 1961 by John Holer, a former circus animal trainer, and has a catchy jingle known by most Canadians: “Everyone loves MarineLand!”

This is the first feature length documentary for director Nathalie Bibeau, and rather than structure as an expose’ (like BLACKFISH), this comes across as more of a psychological profile of Phil Demers, a former trainer at MarineLand, and the titular “whistleblower”. In 2012, he quit his job at the park and began going public with reports of the mistreatment of animals, in particular a walrus named Smooshi that Demers personally trained. He took to social media to make his case, and garnered thousands of followers as @WalrusWhisperer.

The park’s owner, John Holer, is referred to as ‘The King of Niagara’ and is cast as the villain to Demers’ crusading hero. As Demers’ social media generated more attention and he became involved with anti-captivity protesters outside the park, MarineLand filed a $1.5 million lawsuit against Demers, claiming he was “plotting to steal a walrus”. Now I’m no legal expert, but I would guess the number of lawsuits that mention a walrus is actually quite low, and it would be a bit humorous were it not for the ongoing mistreatment of animals.

Director Bibeau includes some archival footage of Demers and Smooshi inside MarineLand, and throughout the film there are clips showing animals and other trainers, although we are never really sure of the timeline. A significant portion of the time is spent with Demers (seen jogging and eating ice cream?) and his partner Christine, also a former MarineLand trainer, as they worry about the media attention and the financial implications of this legal battle.

Canadian politics and the economic impact of the fight against MarineLand collide, and we see and hear some of the dialogue that occurs between lawmakers and activists. We are also witness to an interesting conflict between the anti-captivity protesters and Demers, as he admits to not being a Vegan (eating steak makes him feel good). So he’s both an insider and outsider, as his passion for saving the park animals from drugs and food deprivation for training is admired, while his dietary preferences are most assuredly not.

MarineLand did not participate in the film, so what we have are Demers’ statements and passion, and the video clips. There is little doubt that animal abuse is occurring at the park, and director Bibeau does allow a most interesting comparison: thousands of paying customers vs the hand full of protesters. An often emotional Demers keeps our attention for most of the movie, but whether he’s enough for a full length documentary that lacks a true finale, is questionable. What would he do if granted custody of Smooshi? And why is his approach lacking in structure and organization? It often plays as one guy trying to correct a wrong while lacking a plan. To its credit, the film references the Lewis Carroll poem, The Walrus and the Carpenter, “The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of many things.” Animal rights is an ongoing issue, and … #SaveSmooshi

Theatrical release on October 9, 2020 and On Demand November 24, 2020

watch the trailer

Leave a Comment » | Documentary | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by David Ferguson

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »