February 25, 2023
A Look at this Year’s Documentary Short Oscar Nominees…
By Dan Pal
We’re only two weeks away from this year’s Oscars. I’ve written reviews of most of the top nominees including some of the Best Pictures, International Films, and Documentaries. In the next week I plan to give my assessment of the shorts – you know, those films that most people don’t see that can screw up one’s Oscar ballot. Most of these shorts now regularly get released in theaters and/or on demand so they shouldn’t be as elusive as they used to be. Having now seen almost all of this year’s shorts nominees I’m going to start today with the category Best Documentary Short, what each is about, my brief thoughts on them, and where you can see them.
First up is the film I most recently saw: How Do You Measure a Year, directed by Jay Rosenblatt. While my mother regularly shot footage of my siblings and I growing up, almost all of it was silent and mostly focused on big events such as birthdays, Christmas, Easter, and vacations. This is the kind of documentary I wish she had been able to make. Each year since his daughter Ella was two, Rosenblatt interviews her on her birthday and asks a series of questions such as, “What is most important to you?” and “What is power?” Much like Richard Linklater’s fictional but no less affecting 18 year epic Boyhood, we get to watch Ella grow and change from a precocious toddler to a sullen adolescent and eventual appreciative 18 year old, herself getting ready to go to college. It’s a wonderful look at childhood, attitudes, needs, and maturity. This is the only one of the documentary shorts that is not available for streaming at the present time.
Next up is The Elephant Whisperers from filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves, a beautifully shot examination of a couple in South India who spend their time caring for orphaned elephants. They are completely devoted to the task and develop strong relationships with the animals on a rather expansive farmland. In particular, they care for an elephant named Raghu who has a personality all of its own. They are very tender with him and treat him like a member of the family. It’s fascinating to watch this relationship and how the couple communicates with Raghu and the other elephants. Overall this is a very loving connection that is captured with a lot of warmth and affection. The Elephant Whisperers is currently streaming on Netflix.
Haulot looks at another member of the animal kingdom: the walrus. Specifically, the film follows a scientist in the Siberian Arctic who arrives each fall to study the migration of the walrus population. With no voice-over narration and little dialogue spoken, we can only guess at what he is experiencing internally as he wakes up one morning to find literally hundreds of walruses outside his temporary shack waiting on dry land. We find out that the species needs ice to rest on but due to global warming now finds itself overcrowded and landlocked. The tusks of other walruses injure several of them. Many die. It’s a very sad and overwhelming visual site. This film requires a bit of patience as so little is explained for much of the 25 minute running time. Still, it is a very powerful visual experience. Haulot is currently streaming on YouTube.
I was first introduced to the subject of Stranger at the Gate while watching a segment on CBS Sunday Morning a few months back. The documentary follows a former U.S. Marine who had previously plotted an attack on a mosque in Muncie, Indiana where he resides. His attitude towards the various members of the community changes as he gets to know them further. There is a feeling of dread throughout the film yet where this story goes is not conventional based on similar stories we’ve heard. Out of all the nominees in this category this film may be the most traditional in terms of its arc and use of the standard interview format along with archival military footage. One of the most striking elements of the film though is its statement about how one might be trained to kill a supposed enemy and thanks to PTSD might still feel that drive once they return to civilian life. Can such a person change? Ultimately, this is a very redemptive and inspiring story. Stranger at the Gate is currently streaming on YouTube.
Finally, there is The Martha Mitchell Effect, a documentary about the Watergate whistleblower in the 1970s who helped bring down President Nixon. Recently, Julia Roberts played Mitchell in a very strong performance in the mini-series Gaslit. Watching the real Mitchell through archival footage I couldn’t help but think Roberts didn’t quite reach the essence of this very eccentric and outspoken public figure. The Martha Mitchell Effect adds many additional layers to her life story that is quite welcome to see and hear about in this well-constructed 40-minute film. It is currently streaming on Netflix.
So which film will win at the Oscars this year? I’m thinking it is The Elephant Whisperers thanks in part to its warmth, subject matter, and stunning cinematography. Make no mistake though this is a fantastic collection of short documentaries. All are worth seeing.
A Look at this Year’s Documentary Short Oscar Nominees…
By Dan Pal
We’re only two weeks away from this year’s Oscars. I’ve written reviews of most of the top nominees including some of the Best Pictures, International Films, and Documentaries. In the next week I plan to give my assessment of the shorts – you know, those films that most people don’t see that can screw up one’s Oscar ballot. Most of these shorts now regularly get released in theaters and/or on demand so they shouldn’t be as elusive as they used to be. Having now seen almost all of this year’s shorts nominees I’m going to start today with the category Best Documentary Short, what each is about, my brief thoughts on them, and where you can see them.
First up is the film I most recently saw: How Do You Measure a Year, directed by Jay Rosenblatt. While my mother regularly shot footage of my siblings and I growing up, almost all of it was silent and mostly focused on big events such as birthdays, Christmas, Easter, and vacations. This is the kind of documentary I wish she had been able to make. Each year since his daughter Ella was two, Rosenblatt interviews her on her birthday and asks a series of questions such as, “What is most important to you?” and “What is power?” Much like Richard Linklater’s fictional but no less affecting 18 year epic Boyhood, we get to watch Ella grow and change from a precocious toddler to a sullen adolescent and eventual appreciative 18 year old, herself getting ready to go to college. It’s a wonderful look at childhood, attitudes, needs, and maturity. This is the only one of the documentary shorts that is not available for streaming at the present time.
Next up is The Elephant Whisperers from filmmaker Kartiki Gonsalves, a beautifully shot examination of a couple in South India who spend their time caring for orphaned elephants. They are completely devoted to the task and develop strong relationships with the animals on a rather expansive farmland. In particular, they care for an elephant named Raghu who has a personality all of its own. They are very tender with him and treat him like a member of the family. It’s fascinating to watch this relationship and how the couple communicates with Raghu and the other elephants. Overall this is a very loving connection that is captured with a lot of warmth and affection. The Elephant Whisperers is currently streaming on Netflix.
Haulot looks at another member of the animal kingdom: the walrus. Specifically, the film follows a scientist in the Siberian Arctic who arrives each fall to study the migration of the walrus population. With no voice-over narration and little dialogue spoken, we can only guess at what he is experiencing internally as he wakes up one morning to find literally hundreds of walruses outside his temporary shack waiting on dry land. We find out that the species needs ice to rest on but due to global warming now finds itself overcrowded and landlocked. The tusks of other walruses injure several of them. Many die. It’s a very sad and overwhelming visual site. This film requires a bit of patience as so little is explained for much of the 25 minute running time. Still, it is a very powerful visual experience. Haulot is currently streaming on YouTube.
I was first introduced to the subject of Stranger at the Gate while watching a segment on CBS Sunday Morning a few months back. The documentary follows a former U.S. Marine who had previously plotted an attack on a mosque in Muncie, Indiana where he resides. His attitude towards the various members of the community changes as he gets to know them further. There is a feeling of dread throughout the film yet where this story goes is not conventional based on similar stories we’ve heard. Out of all the nominees in this category this film may be the most traditional in terms of its arc and use of the standard interview format along with archival military footage. One of the most striking elements of the film though is its statement about how one might be trained to kill a supposed enemy and thanks to PTSD might still feel that drive once they return to civilian life. Can such a person change? Ultimately, this is a very redemptive and inspiring story. Stranger at the Gate is currently streaming on YouTube.
Finally, there is The Martha Mitchell Effect, a documentary about the Watergate whistleblower in the 1970s who helped bring down President Nixon. Recently, Julia Roberts played Mitchell in a very strong performance in the mini-series Gaslit. Watching the real Mitchell through archival footage I couldn’t help but think Roberts didn’t quite reach the essence of this very eccentric and outspoken public figure. The Martha Mitchell Effect adds many additional layers to her life story that is quite welcome to see and hear about in this well-constructed 40-minute film. It is currently streaming on Netflix.
So which film will win at the Oscars this year? I’m thinking it is The Elephant Whisperers thanks in part to its warmth, subject matter, and stunning cinematography. Make no mistake though this is a fantastic collection of short documentaries. All are worth seeing.