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blackcat49
, August 24, 2017
(view all comments by blackcat49)
I first saw several years for a very good price. I made a note to watch it, since there are very few documentaries I can actually concentrate on. Luckily, this apparently disliked documentary is one i could not only concentrate on, but actually enjoyed, as difficult as the subject matter is.More interesting than the documentary itself was reading reviews of it afterward. Since it occurred to me that I may be one of the few people with a particular perspective on this film, I decided to write about it.Here’s the neat part: I would consider this a disabled film, though I swear to you I actually wasn’t looking for it to be one. The “main character” in it, the Stevie of the title, isn’t the filmmaker himself but his “little brother,” who he lost track of (with some obvious relief) when he went off to make movies. In fact, considering that Stevie has some obvious mental disabilities (and mental illness), anger control, and other problems, I can see why his family consistantly refer to him as about twelve years old. Most reviewers described the film as difficult to watch because Stevie is unlikeable.Yes, but that’s what makes the film interesting. That, and the different things people took away from this than I did.Steve James, who made the film, stresses in the commentary that Stevie is actually bright and able to build many things mechanically. Doesn’t suprise me — especially the ability to build things. What does interest me is that Steve James places himself in front of the camera in this documentary, so you can see the questions being raised. Reviews I read afterward criticized him for this, because at one point he has an anthropological ethical dilemma: do I continue observing and doing my job, or do I interfere and attempt to change the course of events?In the commentary, Steve James also states that people were surprised at Stevie’s girlfriend, Tanya, a developmentally disabled adult, and that most classified her as the only girl he was likely to meet.Hmm.Possibly. After all, that kind of disability would leave you vulnerable to being taken advantage of, but isn’t this is a small rural town? (another fact that apparently bored reviewers to tears but that I enjoyed). How many disabled people are likely to be in such a town? (Although one of her comments does suggest a very trusting person). And there’s a kind of comeraderie among special ed students who have had similar experiences. Also, for the record, Tanya sounds mildly retarded, and folks, believe me, that is not a profound speech impediment…that’s actually really good speech. Reviewers appeared astonished that this woman could function at all — Stevie’s “guardian angel,” a woman who appears at the end of the documentary to have a good well-thought out answer.Really? Yes, strangely enough, being developmentally disabled doesn’t automatically mean you don’t notice things. On another note, what reasons do “normal” women give for why they stay with their boyfriends or husbands?Reviewers also seemed extremely surprised at the wisdom from Tanya’s friend, a woman I was pleased to see in the film. I started paying more attention. Stevie appeared to respect this woman as a person and didn’t mock her disability (the parts where he lost it and mocked both his girlfriend and her friend are largely cut out of the film. The disability I assume she has does not in general have developmental disabilities associated with it, so ta-da…I perked up because a disabled person was going to have an opinion and it was going to be good.Most reviewers apparently perked up because a disabled person had an opinion…and, oh my God, it actually was a wise, well-informed.
Irecommendthisfilm.
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