fascinating
Added 5/21/2009
Reel Paradise is a fascinating documentary about a man in the independent movie industry, John Pierson, who decides he needs a break from the stress of his life in America. He and his family go to the remote Fijian island of Taveuni to live there for one year in a rented house and they show free movies at a local theater. The cinematography is excellent; everything was very nicely done in that realm. The film gives us a wonderful portrait of people from two cultures getting to know each other and each other's cultures at the same time that many American movies bring much happiness and joy to the local residents of the Fijian island. I do have one cautionary note for you, though: There is some language and imagery in this film that makes me want to warn adults that this is not a children's film.
The people who live in the village are thrilled to have free movies every night and the theater is very popular, so much so that the theater is full many a night even if it is run down. John Pierson has to build gates and remind everyone not to run, push or crowd into the theater at the speed of lightning. On one occasion when John is too ill with fever to open the theater, he lets his son Wyatt open the theater; and Wyatt does a marvelous job of it. We also see Wyatt and his sister Georgia Pierson screening everyone to make sure that they are at least sixteen years old before they can enter the theater to see a certain movie; but admittedly you have to look closely to observe that.
During the course of a year so much can happen; but this documentary film focuses on the last month of the year so that we can observe the Pierson family when they were as close with the local residents as they were ever going to be. It's great to see both of their children, Wyatt and Georgia, becoming very good friends with the local children despite the fact that many of the residents haven't truly mastered the English language. We see Wyatt and Georgia go to school as well.
Of course, not everything in life is positive. The documentary shows footage taken after the Pierson's rented home has been robbed--for the second time. Their computer and some other possessions have been taken despite the fact that the doorway to their bedroom where the things were was padlocked! They call the local police who don't seem to be familiar even with the basics of taking fingerprints; and their Australian landlord Andrew comes by at midnight to say that he's "concerned"--and then Andrew hands John Pierson an electric bill for over 300 dollars the very night he was robbed.
We also get a fine understanding of John's wife Janet. She makes it clear, especially after the second robbery, that she doesn't completely trust any of the local residents there. She worries that they could be vulnerable to numerous robberies because the locals will see them as the wealthy Americans who came to show free movies--and so their money and possessions can be stolen without the Pierson family feeling any financial drain. Ouch!
Although you may think I've spilled all the beans, I haven't. There's plenty of footage that will fascinate you every bit as much as it did me; and there are a few other subjects and conflicts that I will not mention here. In addition, the DVD comes with quite a few nice extras. There are deleted scenes and a featurette entitled "Split Screen: `The Fiji Stooges.'" There's even an alternate ending--and more!
Overall, Reel Paradise is one of the best documentaries I've seen. It highlights what it's like to go so far away from home that the culture shock is enormous; the extensive footage we see gives us a clear understanding of just how special and almost unique the Pierson's family experience really was. I highly recommend this documentary for people interested in the issues raised in this film.
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Reel Paradise - Slow, Possibly Staged But Interesting
Added 10/29/2008
When John Pierson decided to move his wife, son and daughter to Taveuni in the Fiji islands for a year, he clearly had a few things he wanted to accomplish. On the surface the objective was to run the local island movie house, the 180 Meridian Cinema. But since cameras are rolling from day one, producing this documentary was clearly a bigger objective in the adventure.
Reel Paradise is kind of like a very small accident. Even though there is not too much happening, you still can't look away. While there is some drama, it seems like very little really happens considering this movie covers an entire year of this family's life in Fiji. Still, there is something happening here that is worth watching. However, considering the deliberate and organized way their lives were filmed, one has to wonder how planned out the events in this *documentary* really were. So perhaps this is less documentary than it is reality TV captured in the guise of independent film.
The most interesting aspect of this documentary for me is clearly the way the Pierson children react to the various experiences. On the one hand, they each get the unique experience of going to school and interacting with kids in a very different culture. The younger son, Wyatt, seems to adjust with little effort. But the Pierson's teenage daughter seems to be going through a rebellious stage, willfully ignoring her parent's wishes.
While some might judge the Pierson parents for their lax parenting style and highly permissive approach, I found the family interactions fascinating. I give them the benefit of the doubt. In the end, they did something that takes a lot of courage: they put their family on film for the world to see, unafraid of the judgment to follow.
Another thing they have been criticized for is showing *inappropriate* movies to minors. While some people in attendance might not meet the American age recommendations for all the movies they showed, it's not really fair to assume that U.S. social norms should rule what is appropriate in a foreign country. I don't think it's too much of a stretch for young children to watch X-Men, and they also screen classics like The Three Stooges and some silent films. There is a point where they show the movie Apocalypse Now and Wyatt doesn't allow in kids who are under 16, so they do set some limits.
In a sense, this film is more about human interaction than anything else. The scenes are all small vignettes, some of which are very cliché and others that are quite touching. When the locals are filmed commenting on the Piersons, it shows the difficulties that arise from people of two different cultures trying to coexist. John is portrayed as bossy, which he sometimes is. At other times, the locals are overly judgmental and quick to lump the Pierson's in with former colonialists and racists.
Where the film falters is in weaving together the story cohesively. Many times the narrative turns to conjecture, and lengthy opinionated rants. We go from angry fights over who was responsible for missing items, to locals physically fighting, to John discussing at length what a great kid Wyatt is.
And yet, when some of those rants are incorporated with the story you have some of the film's best moments. Part of the appeal of this movie is the story of the stereotypical "ugly Americans overseas." And there is plenty of that.
While the movie is interesting, the lack of fluidity in the storytelling makes it difficult to really enjoy. I will admit that, like a train wreck, I cannot look away when this movie is on. But it's a very small wreck, unfortunately.
So if you enjoy reality TV, just imagine your neighbors being filmed living overseas for a year. If that sounds interesting, there is a pretty good chance you may enjoy this film. But if you are not into that kind of entertainment, this movie will probably leave you un-offended yet uninspired.
Enjoy.
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Did anyone notice?
Added 4/22/2008
Did anyone notice that this man was showing totally inappropriate fims to children...ages infant to teenagers? I think this shows his total contempt for the children and the parents of the island.
If we had watched a film of American children watching such films as Jackass (where men stick things up their butts, and worse, etc) wouldn't we have found it to be sick? The attitude here seems to be, they are natives so who cares.
I know children are exposed to lots of things in life, but this shows total disrespect to them.
If you want to watch a film about Ugly Americans, this is it.
If you are expecting a film about bringing films to people living on a remote island and what their reactions are, this ISN'T it.
2 out of 4 people found this helpful.
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Reel Paradise should be renamed "Real Torture"
Added 9/13/2007
I was so excited to see this movie. I envisioned Jon Pierson as a venturing Rick Steves type. Unfortunately even after a year in paradise he still had an edgy up-tight annoying personality. I would have hated to see him *before* he took this trip to paradise.
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extraordinary film & extra
Added 12/29/2006
Loved it; it's at once compelling, complex, and authentic.
I highly recommend the "commentary" audio also -- Steve James and doc subject Janet Pierson intertwine comments in a way that reveals the subjectivity inherent (but not always obvious) in any documentary film. Steve's discussion of the subtleties of story-telling craft and Janet's nuanced comments on perception transcend the specifics of the film to shed light on documentary in general.
2 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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