The specs for SUNKEN ROADS are published already on Amazon. There is no point in repeating them here.
What does need to be reiterated is that SUNKEN ROADS is an extraordinary, moving and important film made by a very young filmmaker with the cooperation and assistance of some truly compelling individuals, some of whom, sadly, are no longer with us.
To truly appreciate simplicity in art, one need only listen to Mozart. But the same principles of "less is more" apply to other art forms including documentary filmmaking. Usually, I dislike war- themed docs that feature the filmmaker, either as voiceover narrator or on camera host. But in SUNKEN ROADS, the filmmaker's participation is wholly appropriate, adding a crucial element to the film. Charlotte Juergen's presence, on camera and in voiceover, render her a sort of surrogate granddaughter to the veterans she befriends. The effect is charming.
There are two reasons why this approach succeeds. First, Juergens does not have the "know-it-all", "look-at-me-aren't-I-intelligent," "I'm-going-to tell-you-a-very-important-story" persona that so many narrators of documentaries possess. Second, Juergens presence is never forced, and thus she never pulls focus from the main subjects.
Clearly, Juergens has affection and respect for her subjects. So do we. It takes less than a minute to recognize SUNKEN ROADS is a tribute film. This is important because it goes a long way towards illustrating why we must remember veterans and their sacrifices. The generational differences between the 20-year-old filmmaker and her octogenarian subjects are quickly forgotten as they come together to reminisce and remember the fallen. Simply shot and presented without fanfare or pretence, Charlotte Jurgens has created an extraordinary film that is as deeply moving as it is memorable.
See it. Support it. Savour it. SUNKEN ROADS is a minor masterpiece. The filmmaker's taste is extraordinary and she achieves her goals without once falling into the trap of cloying sentimentality. With the technical advances for making films nowadays, anyone can make a movie--just point and shoot. But not everyone knows how to tell a story. Ms. Juergens limited technique and little camera are all she needs to do just that.
One concern: there are no closed captions. This is unfortunate, as many people have hearing loss. Presumably SUNKEN ROADS will appeal particularly to an older audience, where hearing issues may be prevalent. Portions of the film's dialogue were difficult to understand and subtitles/captioning would be helpful. Hopefully, closed captioning will be included in future versions. This wonderful film should be enjoyed by all.
