The Sheffield Doc/Fest promises to bring the international documentary family together to celebrate the art and business of documentary over five crammed days. Unlike other fests, Doc/Fest is a film festival, an industry session programme and market place which offers pitching opportunities and heated discussion panels and in-depth filmmaker masterclasses. Not that I would really know as I spent my time up north trying to get as many films into the 2 and a half days I was there on behalf of LWLies – one of the many media partners of this great festival.
My time at the fest started with a late addition in the rotund shape of Michael Moore’s Capitalism: A Love Story. The organisers must have anticipated a sell out at the one and only screening on Saturday evening so the masses of journos were giving their own screening – the only press screening during the fest. Like most people, I think Moore has gone the way of the other filmmakers who’ve lost their way and become quite self indulgent (Tarantino anyone?). Bowling For Columbine gave Moore awards, recognition and many fans, Fahrenheit 9/11 also garnered awards, criticism and praise in equal measure but most thought his impartiality had gone out the window. Unlike many I quite enjoyed Sicko (Tony Benn’s cameo was accidentally hilarious) for all it’s blatant pandering (the NHS is perfect? Who knew) but most think he’s past his best.
Unfortunately, the same can be said for Capitalism: A Love Story, less focused and more annoying than previous films it seems that Moore is intent on making himself the main feature. It may be timely but his increasing need to fill the inflated running time (at least it felt that way) with as many sob stories as possible is growing very tiresome. Yes, the Western world is greedy and corrupt and yes we’re all being fucked sideways by the recession but exactly what is the point? What is he trying to say apart from the American government is filled with bastards? Not much apparently.
As I arrived after lunch on Thursday and would be leaving before lunch on Saturday, Friday was my only chance to cram in as many films as humanly possible. The first was Bastardy; a doc about the fascinating character of Jack Charles (main image), an aboriginal actor who worked with the cream of Australia’s actors and directors but has since turned to crime and drugs in a weird modern Robin Hood kind of way. Director Amiel Courtin-Wilson followed Charles over 7 years to chart everything including drug taking and time spent in prison for burglary. A really fascinating film with a genuine story behind the subject.
After An Inconvenient Truth opened the floodgates for a ton of climate change documentaries with the subtle message of WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE! so at first I was unwilling to sit through Robert Stone’s Earth Days. Within the opening minutes my doubts were dashed as unlike recent docs this one focuses on the American pioneers who saw our current situation coming and tried to make a change before reaching the point of no return. Everything from the environment to climate to population problems is talked about with people from all areas making for a fascinating film.
Earth Days
Although I wanted to catch Videocracy is clashed with Moving to Mars: A Million Miles from Burma which had such a good buzz about it (and several sold out screenings) that I clawed my way into the evening screening. Mat Whitecross’ film focuses on two families who make the pilgrimage from a overcrowded refugee camp on the Thai/Burma border to a new life in Sheffield. It’s impossible not to enjoy this as the both families are lovely and unknowingly hilarious especially when preparing to come to Britain. When talking about the traits of our fair nation, rain and drinking is high on the list, so high that one of them packs about 6 umbrellas into his bag in preparation.
What’s great about this film is that it shines a light on the families that come to Britain for more than just the NHS and benefits in a time when immigrants and refugees are all being painted with the same brush. These families are scared but optimistic about their new life and their open attitude to learning the language, finding work (exactly how many people on the dole are prepared to clean for a living?) and integrating with the locals whilst keeping hold of their own culture. A must see.
Winnebago Man
The day ended with a screening of Winnebago Man, a film that lifts the lid on one of the most infamous “stars” of viral videos and has been called by Michael Moore as the funniest film of the year and if it can make that miserable git chuckle then there’s hope for everyone. For those that don’t know, the Winnebago Man is a Jack Rebney, a Winnebago salesman who’s tape of outtakes made the rounds on VHS before making it onto YouTube. Unsurprisingly, most people find his foul mouthed tirades hilarious as it’s always funny to see a middle aged man drop a few F-bombs and veer oh-so close to a heart attack.
Director Ben Steinbauer grew fascinated with this character he sought him out to get to know the man behind the video. Although Rebney deserves a film all to himself the most interesting thing about this film is investigating the online video boom and what happens to people who become YouTube “stars” that we all watch constantly and send around the globe in a matter of minutes. Whilst Rebney kept quiet some aren’t so lucky and get lampooned, spoofed and bullied so badly they end up in a psychiatric hospital.
Before coming home I only had space on Saturday to catch one film and although I’ve seen it already, I couldn’t miss watching The September Issue again and it turns out that Andre Leon Talley is still quotable, Anna Wintour is still as warm as a vampire and Grace Coddington is still amazingly witty and lovely. And with that my time at Sheffield’s Doc/Fest came to an end, without doubt one of the most interesting, entertaining and original film festivals there is.
