10 July 2005

Tarnation
This documentary feature probably isn't going to feature in the next Academy Awards, but it probably should. Largely complied from old home-movie footage, it's a small, personal story, but nevertheless deeply affecting and wonderfully executed. Tarnation relies on imagery even more than images to convey its story, creating a sensual cinematic experience unusually in a documentary, let alone a (auto)biographical film. None of the people are otherwise remarkable, but the movie's tag line - "Your greatest creation is the life you lead" - is realized. These are remarkable people whose greatness lies in how ordinary they are. Tarnation is one of the best 90-minute movie experiences I've had in a while.

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