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Reviews
Edith+Eddie (2017)
A Beautifully Tragic Story Kept in the Dark
The documentary Edith + Eddie is a story of the oldest interracial couple fighting to stay together in a rush of family drama. This documentary has a theme of the rights of the elderly, the influence of racial issues, and the power of love.
Yes, the film, at its core, is a love story between a couple desperate to stay together despite a family feud. The themes of inter-racialism and ageism are applied light enough to get the true message of love across. The camera often focuses on moments and icons that enforce those themes, and there is usually a lack of music to allow you to focus better on the conversations. However, I was concerned that there was a lack of information regarding the feud of the family. There was a mention of one daughter involved, but the other two are flat out not included at all. Whether they refused to have a speaking role, or weren't invited to star at all, may never be known. I understand that the feud has lasted for years, and that there's too much information to fit into twenty-nine minutes, but a mention of the true story at least would have made it better.
Another problem I have with this documentary is how it villainizes certain characters, particularly the ones responsible for driving apart the couple. The characters are presented in a black and white situation, but life is rarely like this. No. This is a situation shaded with different greys. Whoever had the best solution for Edith and Eddie's issue might remain undecided forever. The question is who is to blame? This ties back with the feud of the family. Everyone had his or her own mindset on how to deal with the problem, and this had devastating results that drove the family apart. This is never mentioned, and I have to criticise this documentary for its lack of truth.
This was still a good documentary, though. Beautifully moving, and brilliantly presented. The inclusion of many symbols of racial issues, along with the message of how we treat the older people in our society, makes this documentary incredibly powerful. Older viewers are more likely to enjoy this as, coming from experience, younger audiences will find legal battles boring. With all that in mind, this still is a sweet and tragic documentary. It has a brilliant representation about the injustice on the elders in our world, but a little more information about the family's situation would be nice.
Forest Man (2013)
An incredible story sure to inspire
This documentary really is a small charmer. It's one of the shorter ones, but even in the small amount of time it has, it manages to convey one of the most moving and meaningful messages of the modern world. The environment is sustained on a delicate balance, and the thought of one person alone trying to conserve it lifts your spirits. It is an incredible true story of how one person can make a difference, even if no one notices at first, and even if the entire forces of the world are against you.
The story alone is enough to inspire you. Jadav Payeng is one of the very embodiments of nobility, for he is able to carry out a single task every day for years with no intention to reap the rewards. The results his work has presented will leave you in awe. The documentary filmmaker Jitu Kalita stumbled upon this man by accident, but he made the right call to tell Jadav's story. If these two people alone can make such a difference, then it makes you wonder how much would change if the entire world did the same.
The pacing is slightly slow, but it's designed that way to make you more aware of the situation and make it seem more in real time than lapsed. The documentary has this gritty feeling that gives it a more realistic feel. You would never believe that this documentary is a professional one. The clips themselves are slightly shaky, but it isn't enough to deter you from the story, and only adds to the realistic feeling. The angles the shots are taken either close-up to the face of whoever's talking, or wide enough to show an entire landscape. The audio and music paired with the video gives the entire documentary a light feeling, especially the gentle piano.
Everyone who is fan for documentaries will like this, and everyone who feels like they can't make a difference will definitely consider changing their mindset. I recommend this to everyone who wants to fight for change.