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On the surface, Tara Wray's debut documentary MANHATTAN, KANSAS appears to comment on the seemingly indefinable notion of sanity; its subject being Evie, Wray's mother, the psychological "condition" of whom remains undiagnosed. What's fascinating here is that the doc seems to suggest that this is a woman who defies diagnosis itself; Evie's erratic, yet exuberant personality making it virtually impossible for anyone watching the film to judge her. Perhaps the only one in the world who can be granted that right is her daughter. But, rather than passing judgment on her mother, Wray masterfully chronicles their reunion with such thorough intimacy that the documentary ultimately achieves, astonishingly enough, a certain level of objectivity. This is accomplished by Wray turning the camera on herself—a choice not of self-indulgence, but of unguarded personal disclosure. The result is not only an honest and indelible look at the fragile relationship between a mother and a daughter, but also an examination of the nature of love itself. This extraordinary little film gives you complete access to the most private moments of these lives, and forces us to take a hard, good look at how we all express our love of those for whom we truly care. An exceptional work that pulls no punches, MANHATTAN, KANSAS is one of the best documentaries I've ever seen.
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