Movie Preview: My Kid Could Paint That

BuzzSugar — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 14:00:00 -0700

The description for this documentary caught my eye back in January when My Kid Could Paint That screened at Sundance. The film examines the school of thought that instead of being "genius," abstract art is really a sham, simple art that could easily be done by a child.

Four-year-old Marla started making paintings that were soon being compared to Picasso and other respected artists. "60 Minutes" aired a piece casting doubt on Marla's work, and her family's reputation changed instantly. Her work started selling for thousands of dollars.

Soon, however, this ability of Marla's was called into question: Is she an ordinary child just making paintings that are being misinterpreted by art critics? Or is she truly a child prodigy? And why are we so hungry for child geniuses?

The trailer for My Kid Could Paint That has hit the Web and it looks like an intriguing documentary. The movie comes out October 5 in limited release, so to watch the preview, read more

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2007 Sundance Film Festival: Documentaries

BuzzSugar — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 15:20:36 -0800

The Sundance Film Festival has been in full swing for a week, and everyone seems to be having a grand old time out there in Park City, Utah. I've highlighted some of the comedies, dramas, and dramedies that look most promising at this year's festival. Now let's face reality and take a peek at some of the documentaries that have piqued my interest.

My Kid Could Paint That
This movie looks genius, and yet, it causes me to examine the very definition of "genius." It follows a middle-class family in Binghamton, New York, that was shot to international stardom when 4-year-old Marla was billed as a child prodigy for her "abstract expressionist" paintings. The family raked in $300,000 for the paintings, and Marla was heralded as a young Pollock or even Picasso. Then, "60 Minutes" aired a piece casting doubt on Marla's work, and the family's reputation changed instantly. The documentary examines what we consider art, and why our society is transfixed by (and hungry for) child prodigies.

Two more, so read more

War/Dance
In the war zone of northern Uganda, the rebel force called the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) have made life terrifying, as children live in fear of being abducted by the LRA looking to fill their ranks. This documentary focuses on the journey of three children - Dominic, Rose, and Nancy - as their school in the Patonga refugee camp makes its way to the finals of Uganda's music and dance competition. Song and dance are used to capture the strength of the human spirit to rise above incredible brutality and grief.

Hear and Now
Apparently, this documentary received a standing ovation at Sundance, and I can easily see why. Paul and Sally Taylor are a 65-year-old married couple who have shared a satisfying life together, though they haven't heard a minute of it. The two are deaf and have raised a family and been active members of the deaf community. At 65, however, they both decide to undergo a controversial medical procedure to restore their hearing. The film explores how the Taylors' lives change from this procedure: what it means for their relationship, their place in the deaf community, and their sense of identity.