docobuff Reviews

Restoring Life and Limb (2000 TV Movie)

Above average documentary for Discovery

[10/10 · 27 April 2006]

As a rule it's fair to say that the Discovery channels aren't the place to look for outstanding examples of the documentary film-making craft. Channel-hopping my way through their offerings, I stumbled upon episode 1 of this series on the then emerging Discovery Health Channel and was immediately hooked. I was struck by the maturity of the editorial style, the quiet, mesmeric authority of the camera-work and the unsentimental emotional candor of many of the interviewees. The narrative voice-over was uncharacteristically restrained but educational. This is a difficult subject to cover well and I applaud the approach taken. More work of this caliber would greatly improve my impression of Discovery, but sadly this series has remained the exception to the rule.

Entropie (1999)

Mesmeric, understated. A great example of the art of short film-making.

[10/10 · 27 April 2006]

Entropie was a film which defied description. It was one of those European films where very little actually happens and yet you feel drawn in to its world and are left with images, glimpses of humanity which rattle around your brain. At a roadside fast-food hut, a discussion arises about the celebration of 50 years of peace in Europe and you find yourself wondering which Europe is being referred to. The film must have been made before France went over from Francs to Euros. When the rogue passenger tries to haggle with the enraged taxi-driver offering Euro currency, he is driven all the way back to the place of departure, a great portrayal of Gallic pride.

I wanted the film to last longer, but at the same time I'm glad it didn't. The open-endedness of it left me wanting more. Wonderful music, outstanding performances, stylistically restrained, understated humor, magical. A lovely film and a real highlight of the festival!