Review: Hot Docs finds happiness in less than 60 minutes (Includes first-hand account)

Happiness comes in many shapes and sizes, as do documentaries. Although the average movie is between 90 and 120 minutes long, a film is considered feature-length at more than 40 minutes. While there aren’t many fictional narratives that hover around this runtime, documentary filmmakers are seemingly more comfortable not padding a picture to reach an unnecessary but more widely accepted duration. The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival‘s “The Pursuit of Happiness” programme includes two of these shorter format movies: Dugma: The Button and Up or Out.

The men are quite different from each other. Qusawara is very cheerful with a lovely singing voice and a passion for fried chicken, and Basir is a little more serious and a British expatriate. While Qusawara is sure his family will be cared for after his demise, Basir’s impending fatherhood causes him to question his decision. Their enthusiasm for their opportunity to push the button is somewhat surprising as is the support they receive from family and friends; conversely as Qusawara approaches life with such gusto, it’s strangely expected that he exhibit the same eagerness for martyrdom. By piecing together these revealing and unexpectedly humorous interviews, Refsdal offers audiences a unique perspective of a shadowy tradition.

Not understanding enough about the stock market can make most of this film dull and difficult to relate to as the young men in suits ramble about points and stop-losses. Each scene is either recorded in their control centre or conference room, starkly contrasting their dark suits with the white walls and mirroring the sterility of the subject matter. However as they strive to remove human error and emotion from trading, they also appear to be disregarding the feelings of their employees. Tthe most captivating part of the documentary unfolds in the final 10 minutes as the brothers have a tense conversation about the start-up’s future.

Showtimes and ticket information can be found on the festival website.

Similar Posts

  • Review: Not all Hot Docs’ films are traditional documentaries (Includes first-hand account)

    In most film festivals, there are a number of films that don’t easily fit into other categories. At the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, those movies are put in the “Nightvision” programme. It’s here that audiences can find bizarre tales of horror, sex and outlandishness. We look at two films from this programme: Fear Itself and Nuts!

  • Review: ‘The Predator’s only problem isn’t its name (Includes first-hand account)

    There is a prevailing sentiment that any contact with an alien race will be generally unfriendly and probably violent. The expectation is that there will be no interest in making peace or sharing knowledge; instead, there will be a war over resources and in spite of advanced alien technology, humans will prove triumphant via their sheer will to survive. One can only hope that if there is intelligent life out there, they don’t access our entertainment and judge our species inhospitable. Thirty years ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in a movie about a space warrior that came to Earth to earn his stripes. More have come since and now they’re back in The Predator.

  • Review: ‘Swiss Army Man’ is the solution to run-of-the-mill comedies (Includes first-hand account)

    Narratives that are wholly conflicting are a rarity. To know something was enjoyable, but not whether you really liked it or not is a strange and challenging position in which to find oneself. It requires further consideration and analysis, constantly running the risk of over-thinking the film and ruining the possibility of deciding in its favour. But in the case of Swiss Army Man, it almost demands audiences examine its multiple layers and like it because of the many things it offers.

  • Review: Oscar-nominated doc ‘Last Days in Vietnam’ offers unique account (Includes first-hand account)

    The Vietnam War presented a unique situation for the United States in that they had technically lost the battle. The Paris Peace Accords proclaimed a ceasefire between North and South Vietnam, ending direct U.S. military involvement and resulting in the majority of American troops going home save for a small military faction and contractors. However when the communists resumed their invasion of southern territories with brutal efficiency after President Richard Nixon’s resignation, the American government was faced with a number of decisions as were the men still assigned to the region. Last Days in Vietnam is a documentary about the days that followed the initial attack.