A One Mann’s Movies review of the nominations for the Oscars in the “Best Documentary Short” Category.
I’ve not done separate reviews for these Oscar “Best Documentary Short” nominees but am including brief reviews for them in this one post.
The Elephant Whisperers (2022).
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
We follow Bellie and Bomman who are foster carers for lost or orphaned baby elephants in the Mudumalai National Park in South India.
Certification:
UK: PG; US: PG. (From the BBFC website: “Emotionally intense scenes, sight of dead animals”).
Talent:
Directed by: Kartiki Gonsalves.
Written by: Kartiki Gonsalves, Priscilla Gonsalves & Garima Pura Patiyaalvi.
“The Elephant Whisperers” Review:
The best documentaries give us an insight into the lives of others that we have no comprehension of, and this one certainly does that. It’s a simple life, but a hard one. Bellie matter-of-factly tells of how her ex-husband was killed by a tiger in the forest. And then that her daughter dies (for reasons unknown). But it also illustrates the universitality of love and kindness. You can’t not be moved by the sight of the couple looking after their young elephant charges, Raghu and Ammu, bathing them in the river and feeding them bottles. And you can’t not be devestated, with them, when the situation changes.
Hats off also to the photography in this one, which is on a par with a David Attenborough production. There are fine shots of other wildlife in the forest, some great aerial drone footage and some incredible footage of locals foraging: hanging off precipices by home-made vine ropes.
“The Elephant Whisperers” is on “Netflix” and is highly recommended for nature lovers.
Trailer for “The Elephant Whisperers”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0J0b_OVa9w .
Haulout (2022)
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
We follow marine biologist Maxim Chakilev as he researches one of the great wonders of nature in the Siberian wilderness.
Certification:
UK: NR; US: NR. (But this might be a “PG” due to the sight of dead animals).
Talent:
Directed by: Maxim Arbugaev & Evgenia Arbugaeva.
Written by: Maxim Arbugaev & Evgenia Arbugaeva.
“Haulout” Review:
I was lucky enough last year to visit Phillip Island near Melbourne, Australia to watch the nightly arrival of thousands of penguins on the beach there. In a similar fashion, but even more spectacularly, this documentary vividly captures a similar moment. And there is one particular ‘money-shot’ in this 25 minute documentary. It comes at 5m50s into the film. And not since young Barry Guiler opened his mum’s front door in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” has opening a door created such a reveal.
This is also a very sobering story about climate change.
It’s spectacular indeed, but other than the spectacle there is not that much additional content. As such, it feels a bit of a one-trick-pony. It was also unclear to me if Chakilev was filming the documentary himself, or whether there were others in the cabin with him. (As Maxim Arbugaev and Evgenia Arbugaeva are listed as cinematographers, I assume the latter). But I could never quite get away from considering some of the shots overly set-up and ‘staged’ for the camera.
But this is another very atmospheric piece that deserves a watch. See the Youtube link below.
Trailer for “Haulout”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIBmhWsgYnA .
and the whole film (at the time of writing) is available to watch on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mKBZ9dy5fQ.
How Do You Measure a Year (2022)
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
A father records all of his daughter’s answers to a set of questions as she grows up between the ages of 2 and 18.
Certification:
UK: NR; US: NR. (Would be generally suitable for all).
Talent:
Directed by: Jay Rosenblatt.
Featuring: Ella Rosenblatt.
“How Do You Measure a Year” Review:
Firstly, my sincere thanks to Jay Rosenblatt for sending me a private screener for this one, such that I could completer my set! Much appreciated! The film will premier on HBO on Father’s Day in the US (which, unlike Mother’s Day) is the same in the UK – June 18th 2023. As HBO output is shown on Sky/Now TV, this is probably where you need to look for it then (or soon after).
Much like the film “Boyhood” this is a film that needed an awful lot of forward planning! And it is immensely touching to see Jay asking ostensibly the same set of questions to Ella and seeing her answers change from toddler whims to more of the material trappings of modern living. But always with ‘love of family’ as being the anchor that binds it all together.
This is actually a MUST WATCH for parents who may be at the end of their tether in bringing up teenage girls. Since it is a bloody miracle that girls ever get beyond the age of 14 without being throttled by their parents! But, here we are – as Ella emerges on the other side as a mini version of the confident grown up woman that she is set to become. And what a voice she has! The one downside of the film is that you want to skip ahead ten years and see if she has used that, for pleasure or profit.
This concept, of course, was famously done by the BBC in the UK through its innovative “7 Up” series, which followed a set of boys and girls from 1964 and came back to them every 7 years to re-interview them. Absolutely fascinating. It would perhaps be great (even though he said the 18th birthday would be the last) to perhaps do the same through Ella’s life: perhaps every 5 years.
But as an intimate portrait of the love between a father and his daughter, this has little to beat it. It certainly moved the illustrious Mrs Movie Man to tears while watching it!
Trailer for “How Do You Measure a Year”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQdIt3lDD6Q .
The Martha Mitchell Effect (2022)
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
An historical documentary that digs into how a politician’s wife was instrumental in bringing about the downfall of President Nixon over Watergate.
Certification:
UK: PG; US: PG. (From the BBFC website: “Language, threat, violence”).
Talent:
Directed by: Anne Alvergue & Debra McClutchy.
“The Martha Mitchell Effect” Review:
I’ve always been fascinated by the intrigue and sheer stupidity of the Watergate break-in. “All the Presidents Men” is up there as one of my top films of all time. And I loved “Frost/Nixon” in 2008. So when I started this it was a surprise that the subject matter was aligned to my interest. And moreso, since I wasn’t actually aware of this angle to Watergate.
And it’s a very professionally put together documentaty for Netflix. Martha was the pure definition of a “loose cannon” in politics, and to see the action unfold in parallel with the Oval Office discussions (on the Nixon tapes) is brilliant.
As it is a straight historical documentary, I’m not sure it delves into facets of human life quite as much as the other docs in this category do. But it is nonetheless fascinating to watch. It’s available to stream on Netflix.
Trailer for “The Martha Mitchell Effect”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SYWxQ62AUM .
Stranger at the Gate (2022)
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Mac McKinney is a military vet with a hatred of Muslims. When he moves to Muncie, Indiana and the local Muslim community open a new mosque in the town, McKinney cracks.
Certification:
UK: NR; US: NR. (But this would probably be at least a 12 for the racist commentary).
Talent:
Directed by: Joshua Seftel.
“Stranger at the Gate” Review:
The only movie mental link I have with Muncie, Indiana is that the scenes of Barry Guiler’s abduction in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” were set there. But now I have a now data point.
This is an extraordinarily tricksy documentary for reasons that I won’t go into because of spoilers – – and this is really a story that you don’t want to have spoiled.
We see the intimate views of the wife and step-daughter who lives with McKinney, a deranged and bigoted redneck. This is someone who sees a picture of a young Moslim boy in his daughter’s school class and comments “Future terrorist”. McKinley, clearly being interviewed in the visitor’s room of his prison, comes across as a calm and intelligent ‘everyman’ which makes the things that come out his mouth sometimes all the more shocking.
This was a genuinely intriguing insight into the mental process that (I fear) many American’s go through, albeit without necessarily reaching the same conclusion that McKinney reached. This really is a worthwhile use of 30 minutes of your time… honestly.
Trailer for “Stranger at the Gate”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhoZtObnfNk . BUT don’t watch past 43 seconds, since it gives the twist in the story away!
And (at the time of writing) the whole film is available to watch via the New Yorker website here: https://www.strangeratthegate.com/watch-the-film .
Who will Win the Documentary Short Oscar?
This is the first year that I’ve been able to watch all of the Documentary Short films, and I enjoyed watching every one of them. How you choose which is “best” to give the award to is a bit of a lottery. I think the two that had the biggest emotional impact on me were “Stranger at the Gate” and “How Do You Measure a Year”. Due to its surprising twist, I’ll name the former as my “Should Win”. But if you were to push me for my “Will Win” choice, I would guess it might be “The Elephant Whisperers”.
But good luck to them all, and I hope they enjoy their day in the sun and night with the stars in LA next Sunday.
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