In terms of seeing this film as trying to portray a message, I did not see it that way. The emotional journey is a depressing one that by the end I am not fired up to make a difference, but rather I am sad. I see the films ending as not a call to arms but rather a further unfolding of the actions Zachary's grandparents took after his passing.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Yo Zachary
This film, in a word, I thought was brilliant. The style of film making served the plot well. A good documentary should be story, and like any great or even good story, theirs needs to be a conflict fueling the push forward. most documentaries lack a story ark. A clearing rising action, climax, and falling action but this film does that very well. You truly are in suspense to see what happens next. If we are to call this film manipulative it is only in the creating of a powerful story.
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I agree that the film is brilliant and that it is very powerful. However, I think that this argument needs more consideration of what a documentary is supposed to be. Although a good story has a strong format, as you've described, documentaries as not about 'stories' but about 'true stories,' in which case the plot elements should not be altered, just the means in which they are conveyed.
ReplyDeleteThis is obviously a tough issue to grapple with, Adam, but one of the concerns that we're trying to examine in this class is whether a documentary *should* manipulate, or be concerned with being a good story, at the risk of being less truthful, or less real. I know that you take one side on this issue, but keep thinking about *why* -- what is your argument to justify your position? There is no doubt that 'Dear Zachary' is a gripping story with all of what you mention... but it's also highly manipulated.
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