And the Oscar for Documentary Short Film Goes to…
The Oscars were held last Sunday, March 15th. Five documentary short films were nominated.
A friend invited me to preview these films in the theater before the Oscars. I rarely watch documentaries unless my movie-going friend recommends one to me. I was excited to accept her invitation but had no expectations.
“Perfectly a Strangeness” captured the journey of three sweet donkeys climbing up a mountain, a destination that felt familiar to them. The sound of their hooves and the wind echoing off the rocks were mesmerizing. They meandered up the slope slowly, stopping to eat grass and roll in the dirt. Their slow hike ended at an observatory at the top of the mountain, where they stood and watched the sunset, then returned at sunrise. No words, no music, just donkey sounds, click clack as they maneuvered the rocky path. This fifteen-minute film made me appreciate silence and simple joys as seen through the eyes of Palomo, Ruperto, and Palaya, three sweet Chilean donkeys.
From there, the films were increasingly heart-wrenching. The second one focused on a women's clinic in Georgia, for women seeking abortions, medical services, check-ups, and preventive care. The woman who runs the clinic and its security arrives every day at 5:30 a.m. to open the doors. Upon entering the clinic, she cautiously enters each exam room, hoping an intruder is not hiding, awaiting her arrival. Protesters are on site as soon as the doors open to patients, and she must manage staff and the client’s privacy amid the demonstrators’ bullhorns. “The Devil is Busy” was tough to watch, as I wondered whether the angry crowd would become violent. I felt anxious and worried for the safety of everyone in the clinic.
Brent Renaud, a photojournalist wearing a bulletproof vest, his only protection, and armed only with a camera, was killed on March 13, 2022. He was killed by Russian soldiers while covering the invasion of Ukraine. With his brother, Craig, he produced films focusing on human-interest stories in hotspots around the world. They covered the war in Afghanistan, the earthquake in Haiti, and conflicts and crises in the Middle East. He won several awards and was nominated for a Peabody Award. “Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud” was impactful and powerful. This thirty-seven-minute film beautifully captures Brent’s bravery and kindness in the midst of horrific situations, which will stay with me for a long time.
Steve Hartman is well known for his uplifting segments at the end of each episode of CBS Sunday Morning. Over the years, he has often had to end the show with a piece about a school shooting. He spoke about becoming numb and repeating the same words of condolence after each mass shooting. “All the Empty Rooms” is a tribute to six children who lost their lives in school shootings. Along with photographer Lou Bopp, they embark on a journey to memorialize the bedrooms of these six children. The film was deeply emotional, yet a lovely tribute to these children whose bedrooms have remained intact since they were killed. Listening to their parents and siblings was painful, touching, and heartbreaking. The film honors the children with respect, dignity, and love.
“Children No More: Were and Are Gone” was filmed in Tel Aviv, Israel, and tells the story of activists who perform silent vigils to mourn the deaths of children in Gaza. The documentary focuses on the human toll and aims to foster compassion. Hundreds of people silently hold up posters of children's faces who “Were and Are Gone.” Young and old, men and women, stand in single file, silent and somber, for passersby to see. The large-scale photographs of these innocent children are a tragic reminder of the cost of war.
After sitting through three hours and five films, we walked out into the bright sunlight on a Sunday afternoon. Both needing time to let the impact of these documentaries sink in, we visited a nearby bookstore. Seeing war, school shootings, and conflict on the news is a part of our daily lives. We hear it, we absorb it, pray about it, and try to understand it. Often it feels far away, unless it happens in our city. And then we continue on with our day, our week, our lives. Seeing these films changed how I see these horrific acts of violence in the world. Making eye contact with it up close felt personal and was incredibly painful. I will try not to look at tragedies as “breaking news” but rather take time to understand and empathize with the victims of war and nonsensical crime. There were tears throughout, and a moment when my friend asked if I was ok. I said yes, but my heart said no.
If invited to attend these documentaries next year, I will definitely say yes again. I now understand that situations around the world are not always covered by the news.
Before the Academy Awards were presented on Sunday, March 15th, I had thought about which film I would like to receive the Oscar. They are all winners in my book because they highlight global issues that deserve closer scrutiny, not just a news clip. However, my pick is “All the Empty Rooms,” a film that left an ache in my heart for the children and their families.
And the winner is ‘All the Empty Rooms.” The director accepted the award with Steve Hartman, Lou Bopp, and the mother of a child featured in the film. In her message, she said, “We believe that if the world could see their empty bedrooms, we’d be a different America.”
Most of these films are available on HBO Max, Netflix, or Amazon Prime Video.
Bit by bit, that’s all she wrote…