A short mockumentary from New Zealand about the unsung (unheard-of, in fact) film pioneer Colin McKenzie. I found it through a review in The Onion.
In technical terms it was very, very well done, at least to my amateur's eyes... almost too well-done, in fact, because it ended up coming off like a typically dry documentary, not very personally engaging. The movie has been compared to Woody Allen's classic Zelig, but I don't really think they're similar at all, other than both being about people who never existed. Zelig was a lot funnier... Forgotten Silver redefines "deadpan."
The video also came with a bonus short film called "Signing Off" that turned out to be better at holding my interest than what preceded it... it was a punchy little thing about a radio DJ's last day playing ballroom classics, funny in spots, with good effects and camera work and with a subtle, touching ending.
Despite what may seem like faint praise, I think the bottom line is that the package is definitely worth a rental, if you can find it. I suspect BallBuster Video doesn't carry NZ indie projects in its usual maws.
©2000 Alan P. Scott. All rights reserved.
Last updated July 27, 2000.
Contact me:
ascott@pacifier.com