SXSW – D-day

A day of documentaries sees Michael Moore mauled, Kong crowned King and TO 'Lost in Woonsocket'.

Mar 13 2007

I'm only a day into this year's SXSW festival already it’s clear that documentaries will dominate the programme. Which is a good job, because I've just watched three of the buggers. First up was a true gem about rivalry amongst videogame enthusiasts entitled 'The King of Kong'. Now that might not sound too appetising, but this seemingly superficial film actually turns out to be a thrilling examination of the human psyche – a hugely entertaining account of good vs evil that features the finest collection of mullets yet committed to film.

The story revolves around the rivalry between Billy Mitchell and Steve Wiebe, the two kings of classic arcade game 'Donkey Kong'. Mitchell set the 'Kong' record way back in 1982, and has rested on his Donkey-based laurels ever since. His universe was thrown into chaos however when new kid on the block Wiebe lost his job, installed a machine in his garage, and within months had defeated Mitchell's score. Wiebe's achievement was not popular within the gaming fraternity, and a conspiracy was then mounted to discredit both him and his high score. What follows is a story that practically beggars belief, a tale of comedy, tragedy, loss and redemption and a film that reinforces the adage that truth is most definitely stranger than fiction.

The screening was quite an experience too, with director Seth Gordon announcing that New Line had just asked him to shoot a fictional remake of the movie, and 'Kong' king Wiebe making a dramatic entrance post-film that sent the audience into raptures.

Next up was a less raucus but no less thrilling documentary experience. 'Lost in Woonsocket' is a deeply affecting story of how a simple act of kindness can truly change lives. The film started out as an episode of 'Random1', a 'Challenge Anneka'-esque TV in which two charismatic Americans roam the country in search of people who need help. But, when the producers stumble across a homeless alcoholic called Mark, they throw the show's rulebook out of the window and embark on deeply moving quest to assist a man who has well and truly hit rock bottom. Their show is soon cancelled, but the 'Random1' team persist in their efforts to help Mark (and later his friend Normand') achieve sobriety and re-connect with their friends, family and a society that no longer wants anything to do with them.

Beautifully shot and sensitively told, 'Lost in Woonsocket' is an inspirational account of man's capacity for compassion. It hasn't managed to achieve mainstream distribution yet, but the film is currently being shown in detox centers the length and breadth of the county, offering the hope to others that the makers of this marvellous movie offered to Mark.

Last up was a less positive slice of non-fiction life entitled 'Manufacturing Dissent'. The film follows Debbie Melnyk and Rick Caine's efforts to shoot a documentary about the crown prince of the genre, Michael Moore. But, it seems, Moore doesn’t like it when the camera is turned on him, so what starts out as an affectionate examination of his career turns into an aggressive attack on his honesty and integrity.

What emerges is a portrait of a disagreeable, paranoid individual who will stoop to any means necessary to achieve his goals. It’s a damning indictment of Moore, but my one problem with the film was that at times it steeps to similarly childish and manipulative methods as its subject, poking fun at misinformed talking heads discussing his work and failing to give context to some of his speeches and statements. But, where it does succeed is in questioning documentary-making as an art, encouraging the viewer to ask questions of everything they see, especially when it is presented as fact by men like Moore.

• 
•