I am in the film business in SoCal and saw Old Man during a recent visit to Texas at a preview for a film festival being held in Dallas. I was blown away.
Old Man consisted of several unscripted monologues delivered by sons and fathers about their relationships with one another. I became completely engrossed in the film as the honest comments and confessions from the film's subjects brought up a rush of memories about my own father. Not all the memories and the feelings that came with them were pleasant but that is the brilliance of Old Man. While viewing this film I had cause to think, feel and ultimately acknowledge feelings about my father that I'd buried decades ago.
The director, Chris Howell, didn't use fancy sets or lighting. His subjects were the focal point of the film. And through the recitation of each memory, whether amusing or painfully uncomfortable, his camera never flinched. Howell edited in a montage of family pictures and 8mm family films of his subjects accompanied by a beautiful, acoustic guitar, original music score. These scenes while eerily nostalgic served as a welcome break from the raw emotions brought on by the sons and fathers.
From what I understand Old Man was director Howell's first completed project. I hope to see more of his original work in the future.
I highly recommend Old Man, not only to documentary aficionados, but to all true lovers of the art of film making.
Old Man consisted of several unscripted monologues delivered by sons and fathers about their relationships with one another. I became completely engrossed in the film as the honest comments and confessions from the film's subjects brought up a rush of memories about my own father. Not all the memories and the feelings that came with them were pleasant but that is the brilliance of Old Man. While viewing this film I had cause to think, feel and ultimately acknowledge feelings about my father that I'd buried decades ago.
The director, Chris Howell, didn't use fancy sets or lighting. His subjects were the focal point of the film. And through the recitation of each memory, whether amusing or painfully uncomfortable, his camera never flinched. Howell edited in a montage of family pictures and 8mm family films of his subjects accompanied by a beautiful, acoustic guitar, original music score. These scenes while eerily nostalgic served as a welcome break from the raw emotions brought on by the sons and fathers.
From what I understand Old Man was director Howell's first completed project. I hope to see more of his original work in the future.
I highly recommend Old Man, not only to documentary aficionados, but to all true lovers of the art of film making.