Review: Hot Docs’ ‘Screen on Screen’ puts movies at the forefront (Includes first-hand account)
Going to the cinema is generally considered a form of escape. Just this month, audiences sat shotgun with the team in Fast 7, fell in love for the first time in The Longest Ride, and saw the world through the eyes of acclaimed photographer Sebastião Salgado in The Salt of the Earth. But there are so many ways to experience film; the audience’s experiences will differ widely from the experiences of the actors and crew who made the picture. At the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, the “Screen on Screen” program investigates people’s relationships with movies. One of this year’s selections discusses the deliverance some cinephiles found in American productions, while another examines the effects of being a star in the Hollywood system.
Seeing an opportunity, one man would start an empire by simply trafficking VHS tapes over the border, dubbing them, creating duplicates and supplying local screeners with poor copies to show their audiences each week. Reminiscing about their acts of rebellion, people recall the action films of Chuck Norris and how he triumphed over his enemy by defeating a rat in Missing in Action, or when Johnny lifts Baby at the end of Dirty Dancing. The one thing everyone agrees on is the importance of the woman who dubbed all the pictures, government approved and otherwise. She was a critical part of their movie watching experience, though no one knew how she looked. It’s difficult to comprehend the risk everyone bore to take part in an activity most people take for granted, but it’s clear they all thought it was worthwhile.
His familiar voice is played over black-and-white photos and videos, and his recordings are intercut with public interviews and appearances. Clips from tapes recorded at different times are clearly edited together, combining his thoughts on similar topics though variances can be heard in the sound quality and age of his voice. There are no chapters separating the film, but it’s obviously divided into themes. The documentary chronicles Brando’s entire life primarily from his perspective, including the tragic incidents involving his son and daughter. He was often considered an enigma, but this film goes beyond some of the mystery.
Ticket and screening information are available on the Hot Docs website.