True/Flase, praises and complaints.

Now that the festival has ended and I've had a week to soak in all the information while trying to prove to myself that I can make changes in my life, I'd like to talk about it! I will give you a quick overview of what Tim and I saw. Hopefully when they come out on DVD you will watch at least on of them up.
Waltz with Bashir - dir. Yael Nahlieli
This is about the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. The main character is trying to deal with his repressed memories of the invasion and massacre in this animated doc. I don't want to give away too much, because the I'd hate for it not to be viewed personally but the animation is necessary. It represents the main characters inability to face his memories in a realistic light. By viewing it in animation there is a no longer a distinct line between reality and dream, the events become distant from the viewer, just how it is for the main character. I heard a lot of complaints by other attendees about the animation being distracting, but I scoff at them, because they are obviously stupid. Also, can I say that it is a significant movie for our time.
Profiling - dir. various
I missed this film because I was incapacitated but Timmy saw it and rubbed in my face how good it was. It is a collection of shorts profiling individuals. He said that the one about two friends in a very small town was really good. Also the one a bout tattooing in Australia. Wish I could say more but I'll have to wait till it comes out.
Loot - dir. Darius Marder
There are no bad movies at T/F but I think many people, especially young people, were hesitant to see this doc. about two different WWII vets who had buried treasure during the war, and a treasure hunter who is determined to help them and himself find the loot. It was really, really powerful. It gave two different views of vets whose lives, without either of them knowing the other, had paralleled along the way and how the treasure hunter's life is following the same path. I am getting chocked up and chills just thinking about this amazing film. You laugh the first half, because these old vets are hella interesting, and then you cry because you think about your grandfathers, who most likely deal with the same nightmares that these men deal with. It doesn't glorify the Americans, instead it shows how WWII was horrible for young men on both sides being forced to make choices, bad and good, like any young person does in war today. The ending is the best part, and where everyone will and should cry. It really gives you a different view of the men who fought in WWII.
Big River Man - dir. John Maringouin, co-dir. Molly Lynch
If you plan to see any of the depressing movies that I have and will talk about, see this one afterward. It is so uplifting and wonderful! It is about the Big River Man, who has conquered everything from the Yangtze to the Mississippi. His message? There are not enough clean bodies of water, especially, rivers in the world, where for many countries, the poorest survive by. In this doc, he swims the Amazon, yes the MF Amazon. It is just so spectacular. You get to watch this man descend into insanity to show people that their actions count. You will fall in love with Martin Strel, the Big River Man, and how his hard life has brought him to swim the largest and most polluted rivers in the world. You could watch this one with young kids, too, they would probably find Martin to be some sort of super hero, or just a goofy guy. (however, Martin is a heavy drinker and might not be appropriate for all) The director spoke before the movie, he explained that with most docs you take footage and mold it into something that creates/heightens the subject matter, but with Martin, you can't do that, you can only witness. SO SEE IT!!!!
Food Inc. - dir. Robert Kenner
This movie makes you think about the most essential daily task we do, eat. Although, the ending becomes a little preachy, which may turn off those who are unwilling to accept that making small changes in the way they see food could help the whole damn world, it is still a great informational movie. Maybe we shouldn't eat so much meat and produce that is shipped from across the world? This movie doesn't say, be vegetarian, not at all. It says, eat locally and from local farmers, not the major corps that have simplified farming to the point where money is more important then the well being of the humans that eat it. For example, the movie features a small free grazing farmer who the FDA threatened to close because he slaughtered his chickens in the open air. Yet, still his chickens were far more healthy to consume (like, less bacteria in the meat) than the chicken manufactured in big corp farms even after they were given antibiotics while alive and chemical baths after slaughtering. hmmmm... This movie makes you think about how we consume and ultimately how it affects the world we live in. Even if this movie didn't change the majority of people who viewed it during the festival, Tim and I are trying. More Root Cellar (the local year round farmers' market type grocer, that has free graze meat) buying then out of season produce and corp meat. (It isn't so easy at first, hence we are trying)
Rough Aunties - dir. Kim Longinotto
This movie is rough. There is so much heart ache and losing. However, the message is a good one, and to watch these strong women do good for a community that failed them, or took from them is empowering. It is about Operation Bobbi Bear in Durban, South Africa. Bobbi Bear is a program that helps children who have been sexually abused find justice. It uses teddy bears in the consoling of the children. The movie starts with a young girl drawing on her teddy bear what a man, who broke into her room, had done to her, and then band aids are used to heal the wounds she has depicted. It is a very powerful beginning which is followed by more powerful scenes of triumph and tragedy. I would re tell the whole movie, because it was one of my favorites but that wouldn't give it justice, one should see it and feel it for them self.
No Impact Man - dir. Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein
This movie is about a Man, his wife, and their young child going off the grid while living in New York City. They do things as simple as to not drive and only buying locally from the farmers market to living without electricity. (Bridgett, you would like this one.) It shows that if you take the time, time you might use for watching TV, playing on the internet, or shopping, you can live very simplistically. Ok, it isn't super easy, but it is feasible, if you waste a lot, instead, don't by so many prepackaged food items/plastic containers/things that wind up in your trash a week later. If you drive, reduce if you can't eliminate, like, don't drive the 1 mile to the store, walk or bike. I don't know, I am bias towards No Impact Man because I never learned to drive and I am filled with constant anxiety when it comes to wasting. I don't live with out toilet paper but use it sparingly, but I haven't bought paper towels in 2 years and don't plan to any time soon. Most weeks, Tim and I put out more recycling than trash, which is a start but no solution. This movie doesn't ask you to give it all up but to find the things that you'd be willing to change, the things that you think are important. Sorry, I think I was just a tid bit preachy there.
The Yes Man Fix the World - dir.Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno
This is the second Yes Men. They are two men who fool media/ corporate seminars/ trade shows. Basically they put the obvious out there for the people who are disillusioned by big CEOs/Companies. It is really a hoot to watch these guys get away with shaming companies that no one else is willing to hold accountable for their bad actions. It made me feel like I live under a rock. I follow the news daily but when watching this movie I realized how much is hidden, or rather how much I don't know, but am not surprised by. It was really good, and although some might not want to leave their disillusionment and think these men are just doing harm, if you are smart you'll like it.
And if you don't like it/get it, or any of the other movies I talked about, then you are dumb. Yes, dumb. I will be the first to pass judgement on you because to not feel these movies or to not change one thing about yourself afterward is appalling in my book.