Marwencol (2010)

Director:

Jeff Malmberg

Release Date:

8 October 2010 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Biography | Fantasy

Tagline:

When his world was stolen, Mark Hogancamp made a world of his own.

Plot:

After a vicious attacks leaves him brain-damaged and broke, Mark Hogancamp seeks recovery in "Marwencol", a 1/6th scale World War II-era town he creates in his backyard.

Plot Keywords:

Coma | One Word Title

Awards:

15 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Mark Hogancamp	...	Himself
Emmanuel Nneji	...	Himself
Edda Hogancamp	...	Herself
Tom Neubauer	...	Himself
Julie Swarthout	...	Herself
Janet Wikane	...	Herself
Mark Wikane	...	Himself
Bert	...	Himself
Lisa Bruck	...	Herrself
Colleen Vargo	...	Herself
David Naugle	...	Himself
Ruthie Hotaling	...	Herself
Tod Lippy	...	Himself

Directed by
Jeff Malmberg

Produced by
Jeff Malmberg	....	producer
Tom Putnam	....	producer
Matt Radecki	....	producer
Chris Shellen	....	producer
Kevin W. Walsh	....	producer (as Kevin Walsh)

Original Music by
Ash Black Bufflo

Cinematography by
Jeff Malmberg
Tom Putnam
Matt Radecki
Kevin W. Walsh		(as Kevin Walsh)

Film Editing by
Jeff Malmberg

Sound Department
Pete Kneser	....	sound designer
Pete Kneser	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
David Naugle	....	additional photography

Editorial Department
Kaz Brecher	....	cut watcher
Brian Hutchings	....	colorist
Edwina Lantigua	....	cut watcher
Chris Mortensen	....	cut watcher
Kate O'Brien-Clarke	....	cut watcher
Dan O'Connor	....	cut watcher
Lori Putnam	....	cut watcher
Amy Himsel Radecki	....	cut watcher
Mark Rowland	....	cut watcher
Teri Shellen	....	cut watcher
Naomi Spiro	....	cut watcher

Music Department
Annie Lin	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Peter Grant	....	title designer
Andrew Herwitz	....	world film sales: The Film Sales Company
Lesley Langs	....	equipment loans
Robert Williams	....	equipment loans

Thanks
Tod Lippy	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• Open Face

Distributors

• Bonsai Films (2011) (Australia) (all media)
• Channel 4 (2011) (UK) (TV)
• Cinema Guild, The (2010) (USA) (all media)
• Constellation (2011) (USA) (all media) (Digital)
• Fonk Vzw (2011) (Belgium) (all media)
• Kinosmith (2010) (Canada) (all media)
• PBS (2011) (USA) (TV)
• Sveriges Television (SVT) (2011) (Sweden) (TV)

Other Companies

• Spectra Film and Video  super 8 transfer (as Spectra Film & Video)

Runtime:

USA:83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Filming Locations:

Kingston, New York, USA

Company:

Open Face

Trivia:

For the film's premiere Mark prepared a story line including the delivery by courier of a 1/6th scale press kit to the village of Marwencol.

Quotes:

Mark Hogancamp:I was like an elephant left in charge of the peanuts.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #1.12" (2011)

Inspiring, beautiful, pair of stories lovingly made (by the director and the subject)

This is a beautiful, respectful, modest treatment of a delicate subject Mark H. -- the victim of a barroom attack by several youths who is left in a coma, forgets his past, and must gradually relearn how to walk, speak, and function. He remains damaged, but creates his own form of therapy in the form of creating an intricate world of action figures living out a detailed story of WWII action. He is an inspiring, creative, charismatic yet fragile protagonist.

The movie follows the parallel worlds of Mark's reality and his storytelling, which reflect each other and progress with effective pacing. It is an inspiring tale of self-initiated psychological rehabilitation, where a person who might be pitied reinvents himself and finds redemption and what appears to be a "better" version of himself.

There are also very interesting sub-currents of sexuality, sexual identity, justice, catharsis, normalcy, and power struggles in the dual narratives.

The movie makers lovingly capture Mark's meticulously created art (including his excellent photography) with beautiful cinematography.

Inspiring, beautiful movie.